2017 New Jersey Governor's Race Heats Up

SAYREVILLE, N.J. (CBS) - Just as the nation is settling down from the tense Presidential sweepstakes, next year's race for New Jersey Governor began picking up this week, at least for Democrats.

North Jersey Assemblyman John Wisniewski threw his hat into the ring. No surprise, since he's been working for months to line up support.
His only announced opponent, businessman and former Ambassador Phil Murphy, who got a lot of money along with many party leaders in his camp.

Many, but not all, and Wisniewski insists things can change between now and the June primary:

"The people of New Jersey want to have a choice as to who their next leader will be," he tells KYW Newsradio. "They don't to have a process that's rigged by insiders who decide for them who their choice will be."

But some Democrats have already read the tea leaves and have bowed out of a contested primary. Among them, State Senate President Steve Sweeney and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop.

Murphy expects to spend some $10-million on the primary, and already has a sizable organization in place. Wisniewski is getting his team together, and knows he'll need a good deal of cash to wage a credible campaign:

"I have a lot of respect for the system of public financing that New Jersey has for gubernatorial elections," he said. "And I admit that this is a David verses Goliath situation. But this Davis's going to have a $6-million rock."

Another potential complication could arise should North Jersey State Senator Ray Lesniak become a candidate.

Wisniewski, an attorney by trade, has spent the past 21 years in the state legislature, rising to chair the Transportation Committee. He was also co-chair of joint legislative hearings into the Bridgegate scandal, a position that put him on a number of cable news shows as the drama played out before the federal trial that concluded last month with two former aides to Governor Chris Christie convicted on a number of federal corruption charges.

Christie is barred from seeking a third term. Two Republicans have announced their candidacies: North Jersey Assemblyman Jack Ciattrelli and businessman Joe Rullo. Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno is considering a run along with State Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Junior.