Gov. Chris Christie could make history this week as he prepares to choose a successor to U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg.
Among the names circulating in Republican circles as a possible successor is that of current Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, who is running alongside Christie for a second term.
Should Christie choose the former state and federal prosecutor to assume the Senate seat, she would be the first New Jersey woman ever to hold the post.
Guadagno would make sense as Christie’s choice, several Republicans told PolitickerNJ today, though it’s still unclear in which direction Christie will turn.
Other women have run for the office, including former Republican U.S. Rep. Millicent Fenwick, the pipe-smoking anti-corruption firebrand who served four terms in the House. Fenwick, who was favored in the race early, narrowly lost to Lautenberg in the 1982 contest. The co-counder of ADP went on to serve two separate stints and more than 30 years in the upper chamber before his death yesterday.
Christie could actually make history twice with the choice of Guadagno. Should he choose his running mate, he would then need to name a new candidate for lieutenant governor. Several names could be in that mix, including Assemblyman Jon Bramnick.
Should Christie name a male and go on to win re-election, his running mate would be the first man to serve as New Jersey’s lieutenant governor.
