EAST BRUNSWICK — After a grueling six month campaign, former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan formally conceded to Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie tonight.
Lonegan told a crowd of about 200 at the Hilton East Brunswick that the loss was just a “minor setback,” and that his campaign and its supporters had shaped the course of debate in the primary.
“This is not the end. This is the beginning. I’m proud to say, folks, you decided, we defined the message in this campaign,” he said. “Mr. Christie ran on our issues. We got him to run on our issues. And if we succeed in making the Republican Party stand up for the issues we believe in
It was Lonegan’s second gubernatorial primary loss in a row, although a much closer one than four years ago, when he came in fourth in a field of seven candidates, with about 8% of the vote. He repeatedly won reelection as mayor of Bogota, population 8,000, but also lost previous candidacies for Congress and state Senate.
Lonegan pointed out that some members of his slate won elections for various offices, quite possibly including Assemblyman Mike Doherty (R-Washington Twp.) in his state Senate race against incumbent Marcia Karrow (R-Raritan).
Despite some hisses by disapproving supporters, Lonegan called for Republican unity.
“Folks, I have pledged to Chris Christie that I will do everything I can to help implement these changes and help move the Republican Party towards victory in November. Please, I ask you to join me in that,” he said. “This has been the culmination for me of a decade of work. The commitment to the taxpayers of this state.”
While he was finishing his speech, a supporter yelled “Lonegan for president!” It drew cheers from the crowd, but Lonegan ignored it.
“From the bottom of my heart, I have been touched in a way as never before by your support,” he said.
