Andrews announces re-election campaign

Rep. Rob Andrews (D-N.J.) confirmed rumors Thursday morning that he would try to reclaim his seat after a failed primary challenge to Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.).

After making what he called a “very personal and perplexing decision” over the Labor Day weekend, Andrews said he will ask the county committee members in his district to nominate him again on Monday. Andrews, when he announced his challenge to Lautenberg,  pledged not to run for his House seat.

{mosads}Andrews cited his family and constituents as his motivation to seek reelection.

“In listening to people around my district who have expressed real and humbling support for me, I thought long and hard about it,” he said.

Camille Andrews, the congressman’s wife, is currently on the Democratic nominee. She has removed her name from the ballot. During her primary campaign she was accused of being a “placeholder” for her husband.

“The voters did evaluate those arguments in the primary,” Rep. Andrews said, noting his wife had won the spot.

He said Thursday, however, that prior to the past two weeks, he had not considered returning to the House. He acknowledged that he had been in negotiations with investment bank Goldman Sachs to take a lucrative position with the company, though he refused to disclose the terms of any tentative agreements.

Andrews also admitted that he would have to rebuild relationships with fellow members of the New Jersey delegation on whose toes he stepped while challenging Lautenberg. Many of Andrews’s colleagues had deferred to Lautenberg as a senior member of the delegation during the primary.

“There are clearly fences to mend and I understand that it’s my obligation to do so,” Andrews said. He suggested, though, that he had the support of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and indicated that his senior committee positions would remain intact in the next term. Andrews also cited the “dozens” of colleagues at the Democratic National Convention in Denver last week who urged him to return.

Andrews will face prison ministry director Dale Glading (R) in this fall’s contest. His campaign launched a website, RobAndrewsLied.com, slamming Andrews for reneging on his promise not to run.

"Frankly, I am outraged that Rob Andrews has once again gone back on his word to the people of New Jersey, revealing for the umpteenth time his uncontrollable political ambitions," said  Glading. "The people of the 1st District deserve a representative in Congress who they can trust, not a compulsive liar like Rob Andrews."

Political analysts consider the district safe for the Democrats. In 2006 Andrews ran unopposed. He was first elected to the seat in 1990.

Andrews said that he is dedicated to public service, a value he hopes voters realize this fall. “I’m being honest about the reasons, and people will make their judgment,” he said.