Comedian Vinnie Band has ruled out challenging Democratic incumbent Cory Booker in this year’s U.S. Senate race.
Brand, the owner of the Stress Factory Comedy Club in New Brunswick, told some Republican insiders in January that he was considering a Senate bid, but has now decided against running.
If he did run, he was expected to win the endorsement of former Gov. Chris Christie. Christie has been seeking a comeback as a Republican Party influencer in New Jersey.
Three Republicans are dominating the race to take on Booker: former News 12 reporter Alex Zdan; Richard Tabor, a state trooper and U.S. Army veteran; and former Tabernacle Deputy Mayor Justin Michael Murphy. Natalie Rivera, who has run for Senate several times, is also in the race but has skipped Republican conventions in recent weeks.
Bob Lebovics, a physician from Englewood, is also mulling a Senate bid.
The filing deadline is March 23.
