Newly-Minted Republican Jumps into NJ Congressional Race

Efforts by national Democrats to flip the Congressional seat held by Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen just got harder. 

Antony Ghee, a black investment banker and army reserve major has announced his candidacy, and he registered as a Republican just this week.

He immediately becomes a contender to beat back the surging Democrat with a sterling resume: Mikie Sherrill, a former federal prosecutor and navy pilot. She's also a mother of four.

But Ghee will first have to win a primary in June against Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Sussex), whose conservative voting record will appeal to the Republican base.

Ghee lives in Totowa, N.J., and is the headquarters commander of the U.S. Army Reserve Legal Command in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He’s also an author of the book Fraud, Lies & Greed about how professional athletes become victims of fraud, which has a forward by former pro football player  Plaxico Burress. 

Ghee has the support of Essex and Passaic County GOP organizations, which will give him the top line on the primary ballot in those counties. Webber has more support in Morris County, which constitutes the largest part of the district but does not offer top line placement to the candidate who is endorsed by the county GOP.