Booker Won't Make Senate Run Official Until After Governor's Race

Mayor Cory Booker has filed campaign paperwork with federal election officials, said he will not seek a third term as mayor next year, and announced his interest in running for Senate in 2014.

Yet the 43-year-old Democrat has so far refrained from officially launching his bid for the seat of Democrat Frank Lautenberg, who is retiring after his current term expires.

And no formal announcement will be forthcoming until after the election of New Jersey’s next governor later this year, the Huffington Post reported Wednesday.

“Not until after the governor’s race,” Booker said. “I’m really going to wait.”

Booker had said previously he would be focusing most of his energy on city business and on helping Democratic candidates like state Sen. Barbara Buono, who is challenging Gov. Chris Christie. At one point Booker said he was considering a run for governor himself but ended speculation in December, when he announced his interest in the Senate instead.

Although a vocal supporter of Buono, Booker also enjoys an especially good relationship with Christie, a popular Republican who has strong bipartisan appeal. Booker and Christie have worked closely on a number of issues facing the city, including how to manage a $100 million donation to the public schools from Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg and arranging for state help to lure development to the city.

During his state of the city address Tuesday, Booker warmly recalled how Christie called him repeatedly the night Superstorm Sandy struck in October to offer assistance, such as additional state police.