NJ-SEN 2018: If Menendez resigns, does Gov. Christie appoint himself?

[Greedo punched first]

If Menendez resigns, does Christie appoint himself?

[Kingpoleon]

No. He'd appoint Kate Whitman, Tom Kean Jr., Don Guardian, or DeForest Soaries, but it won't happen.

[TheSaint250]

He said he wouldn't, and I trust him on that. Besides, he knows it would only be temporary. Tom Kenan Jr. would be great

[pikachu]

No. The man seems like he wants out of politics asap.

No. He'd appoint Kate Whitman, Tom Kean Jr., Don Guardian, or DeForest Soaries, but it won't happen.

I feel confident in saying that he would never appoint any of them. It's much more likely he appoints some random member of his cabinet a la Cheisa.

[Virginiá]

I'm sure he knows it would be a temporary gig. There is little chance voters would send him back to Washington in 2018. It is already hard enough for a Republican that isn't widely hated to win a federal statewide election in Jersey.

[Heisenberg]

No. The man seems like he wants out of politics asap.

No. He'd appoint Kate Whitman, Tom Kean Jr., Don Guardian, or DeForest Soaries, but it won't happen.

I feel confident in saying that he would never appoint any of them. It's much more likely he appoints some random member of his cabinet a la Cheisa.

Maybe even Jeff Chiesa himself, again?

[NewYorkExpress]

I imagine someone like Christine Todd Whitman, Rodney Freylinghuysen or Leonard Lance might be able to hold the seat, but Christie would have no chance.

[jimrtex]

Big Move or Fat Chance?

[Heisenberg]

I imagine someone like Christine Todd Whitman, Rodney Freylinghuysen or Leonard Lance might be able to hold the seat, but Christie would have no chance.

Whitman is too liberal to win a primary, I think, and if she made it to the general, she'd lose more Trumpists than she'd gain Democrats, so no.
Frelinghuysen won't want to lose his spot as Chairman of the Approprations Committee (VERY powerful, he has a good lock down on his district) to being the most junior Senator, and in a race where he'll be an underdog, and possibly leaving it open to a Democratic pickup. Leonard Lance may not want to risk his House seat, but it flipped from Romney +6 to Clinton +1.5, so maybe he would want to take a gamble. But the fact that he'd be an appointee from Christie may still be too much of an albatross around him (along with the lean of the state).

[SATW]

1. I believe Whitman voted for Hillary, so her candidacy would be DOA.
2. Freylinghuysen hasn't recovered from his controversy earlier in the year yet + Heisenberg's reasoning
3. Leonard Lance is the best of these republican proposals, but I don't think he will run.

I also don't think Tom Kean Jr would be able to have a chance and he should state in the state legislature for now.

The reality is that the GOP is dreaming about a pick up in a state that has been trending even more democrat since 2008. And banking on a conviction of a U.S. Senator that will, imo, likely not happen.

Bob Menendez has been an excellent senator and has worked with Republicans on almost all key foreign policy issues. I'm proud to support Sen. Menendez.

If he is convicted, he should resign, though. And if this happens, the GOP should hope Albio Sires or Josh Gottheimer are recruited. They are both similar to Menendez on policy.

[Lord Admirale]

Please no.

[BuckeyeNut]

No. Christie loathes the idea of serving in any legislature with a passion.

[Coolface Sock #42069]

I bet he would. With an ego that big, being addressed as Senator for the rest of his life is too good to pass up.

[Greedo punched first]

I bet he would. With an ego that big, being addressed as Senator for the rest of his life is too good to pass up.

[BudgieForce]

Christie would go from being the most unpopular Governor in the country to the most unpopular senator in the country.

[Obama-Biden Democrat]

Big Move or Fat Chance?

Would he dare appoint himself on Fat Tuesday?

[RINO Tom]

I imagine someone like Christine Todd Whitman, Rodney Freylinghuysen or Leonard Lance might be able to hold the seat, but Christie would have no chance.

Whitman is too liberal to win a primary, I think, and if she made it to the general, she'd lose more Trumpists than she'd gain Democrats, so no.
Frelinghuysen won't want to lose his spot as Chairman of the Approprations Committee (VERY powerful, he has a good lock down on his district) to being the most junior Senator, and in a race where he'll be an underdog, and possibly leaving it open to a Democratic pickup. Leonard Lance may not want to risk his House seat, but it flipped from Romney +6 to Clinton +1.5, so maybe he would want to take a gamble. But the fact that he'd be an appointee from Christie may still be too much of an albatross around him (along with the lean of the state).

There is very little evidence that "Trumpists" represent a cohesive voting bloc in ANY state's GOP electorate.  It should be perfectly obvious to anyone that Trump's election doesn't suggest that.