June 4th, 2013
01:50 PM ET
10 years ago
Christie opts for special election, says voters should decide
(CNN) - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie opted for a special election to fill a newly vacant Senate seat through 2014 instead of appointing a replacement through that time, saying the decision was about giving voters "a choice and a voice in the process" and was not driven by political self-interest.
While the Republican's decision for a special October ballot could help him avoid stronger Democratic turnout in his re-election bid a month later, it also opens him up to criticism from his own party that is on the short end of the balance of power in the Senate.
Christie's decision serves himself well. If he let the election for a U.S.. Senator happen in November 2014 when he is running for a second term, there is a strong possibility that more Democrats and Independents would turn out to vote.
He would have a harder time winning by a larger majority of the vote which he is counting on for a better shot at the 2016 Republican primary. A very self serving decision.
"GI Joe
If he has $25 million to spend on an election 1 month prior to a regularly scheduled election, I guess he doesn't need any more help with Hurricane Sandy. Or maybe that's where he's getting the $25 million. You folks in NJ need to watch him – he's sneaky."
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First GI – one must always watch ALL Republicans. In general, they are very dishonest.
Worse, they have limited skills at logic. For example – look at your statement, and we can all agree there is no logical relationship between FEMA spending for hurricane relief, and special election spending.
Of course, as a GI, we don't expect you to be able to add much to these discussions.
I may not agree with him all the time but he has shown to stand on his own two feet. Respect for the man
Can he explain why he didn't have the special election in November 2013? I can...it's about voter suppression plain and simple. HE does not want to be running for reelection whith Cory Booker on the ballot who would draw more Dems to the polls. This reaks of partisianship plain and simple. Yes, I agree it's better for the replacement to be elected by the people and not appointed by the governor, but there is no need for the extra expense of holding an election in October when you have one only several weeks thereafter. His blood sugar must be too low these from his lap band surgery.
now that he's placated the democrats, hopefully he'll appointed a good republican to fill the seat and then run in the election as the sitting senator.
Respect, CC.. keep taking high roads and it won't matter what the radical end of your base may say
"The costs associated with having a special election and primary, in my mind, cannot be measured against the political brownie points I gain with the far left media for taking this action. I don't know what the costs are, and frankly I don't care,"
"Special elex"? I thought this was a news site, not twitter...
"The costs associated with having a special election and primary, in my mind, cannot be measured against the political brownie points I gain with the far left media by taking this action. I don't know what the costs are, and frankly I don't care,"
Yeah. Wasting tax payer money so more Dems won't turn up for his election.
For all Dems living in NJ – Go vote in the November Governor election and ensure the big F@t b@stard loses.
Well, that's one senate seat that isn't going to be up for sale, like they do in Illinois.
TommytheT – the election would happen in Nov2014. That is one year and 3 weeks wait. Finally, we have a politician who respects people's right to choose
Christie has some nerve putting the people before politics!
Great idea for him to do that. The man actually makes sense sometimes, which is more than I can say for most politicians. I am not a Republican by any means, but we do need someone to fill the spot until the October results are in, to represent NJ.
@TommytheT – it wouldn't be Nov 2013 it would be Nov 2014 if he didn't hold a special election. It wouldn't be 3wks but a YEAR and 3wks that an unelected person would be voting on senate issues in the name of New Jersey–really? Your rush to criticism and conspiracy theory belies your obvious partisanship...
Christie is a democrat in a rino skin
Actually n222s.. I don't recall any Obama supporter referring to him as a saint, Messiah, or whatever other BS the baggers call him. His supporters know he isn't a saint or a Messiah. As for transparency in government, I bet one thing, he is a lot more transparent than the previous occupant of the Oval Office. He and Cheney were the dictators. Too bad no one gave a flying fig before 2008......
Way To Go Christie, Keeping it all about the PEOPLE!!!!
Christie defers to the voters. Congress should take a lesson before they receive one!
Of course he doesn't know or care what the costs are as long as its the safest way to get a Republican into the Senate. But in fairness to him he didn't care about the cost when he agreed to millions in government assistance to help finish the now bankrupt Revel Hotel in Atlantic city so the Millionaires would have a place to stay down there. He doesn't care about the cost to help finish the Swamp Mall in the Meadowlands formerly called Xanadu. He should make " I don't know what the costs are, and frankly I don't care" his re-election campaign theme song.
Turns out conducting yourself above politics is good politics. He gets criticized for doing the right thing because it benefits him – it should!
Great move Christie! An early election takes the wind right out of the Democrat sails because everybody knows Booker will run for the open seat. It means an easy win for him in the Governors race. So what about the costs. Since when did Democrats care about government wasting money anyways?
I'm sure Democrat Governors (Blagojevich) would listen to the will of the people and not just appoint someone from their party.
Choosing the people over politics. Christy is a rare politician indeed!
Turns out conducting oneself above politics is good politics. Some are criticizing him for doing the right thing because it benefits him – it should!