Christie Sets Special Election Date To Fill Senate Seat Of Frank Lautenberg

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has acted swiftly in response to yesterday’s passing of Sen. Frank Lautenberg. The special election will be October 16th and Democrats are unhappy.

New Jersey state law conflicted on the timing of a special election to fill a vacancy. One section of New Jersey law on vacancies said the special election should be held at the next general election, which is on Nov. 5 — the same time as the governor’s election. Another reading of the law said the special election would be held in November 2014, when the Senate seat is on the ballot anyway for a new term. Christie’s decision drew immediate criticism from Democrats, who wanted the special election to be set for November. The governor said the state will absorb the costs of the special election, estimated by the New Jersey Office of Legislative Services to be about $12 million per election.

Christie says he will still appoint an interim Senator to fill the gap until October. The big question now is whether Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who was already expected to run in 2014, will enter into the special election.