AC Current & Former Mayors to Compete for Senate?

Looking beyond Tuesday’s NJ primary, Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford made plans for the November election.

Langford filed a petition on Tuesday to run as an independent in the General Election.

He would challenge Sen. James Whelan (D-Atlantic), who served as Mayor of Atlantic City from 1990 to 2001. Republican Assemblyman Vince Polistina (R-Atlantic) is also campaigning to unseat Whelan.

Tuesday was the petition filing deadline for candidates running in the General Election.

The Press of Atlantic City reported that Langford’s decision was prompted by dissatisfaction with Whelan. But Langford told reporters that he is still exploring whether he will actually mount a campaign.

Langford’s final decision is expected by the end of the summer.

Whelan, a Philadelphia native, served three terms as Mayor Atlantic City before he was defeated by Langford in 2001. He was elected to the NJ Assembly in 2005 and won his current Senate seat in 2007.