New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie scheduled a 1:30 p.m. press conference on Thursday amid speculation he could name a temporary appointee for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Frank Lautenberg, who died on Monday.
A spokesman for Christie did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The GOP governor, however, has said he wants to have a replacement for Lautenberg in Washington by next week, when the Senate is expected to begin debating immigration reform.
The announcement comes two days after Christie scheduled an Oct. 16 special election to fill the seat?a decision widely criticized by both Democrats and Republicans who have accused the governor of acting in his own political interest.
The election date, which comes after an Aug. 13 primary, is less than three weeks before New Jersey?s regularly scheduled general election date of Nov. 5, when Christie will be on the ballot seeking re-election. Critics have accused Christie of setting the date early to avoid having a popular Democrat on the ballot, which could drive up voter turnout and hurt his re-election bid.
On Tuesday, Christie denied he was influenced by politics and insisted he simply wanted to give New Jersey voters ?a choice and a vote? for the new senator as soon as possible.
The state Democratic Party has said it's considering filing suit to move the date of the special election to Nov. 5 to save the cost of having two statewide elections in close proximity.
Christie?s press conference comes as the special election has already attracted interest from both Republicans and Democrats.
On Thursday, Rep. Rush Holt, a Democrat, announced he would enter the race, telling supporters in an email that he is the ?best candidate to continue the passionate advocacy for progressive values that Sen. Lautenberg exemplified.?
Other Democrats are also said to be considering the race, including Rep. Frank Pallone and Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker?who was already exploring a 2014 run for the seat.
On the Republican side, state Assemblyman Jon Bramnick and Joe Plumeri, a Trenton businessman and minor-league baseball team owner, have reportedly expressed interest. But state Sen. Tom Kean Jr., who had been mentioned as one of Christie?s possible appointees, said he?s not interested in the race. And several GOP sources told National Review?s Robert Costa that state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos, who was the party?s nominee in 2012, won?t run either.
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