Wagner Pulls Out of State Assembly Race

Editor's note: Updated from an earlier version with comments from Assemblywoman Connie Wagner.

Assemblywoman Connie Wagner announced Tuesday she will not seek re-election to the state assembly in November citing family reasons which will require her to spend much of her time out of state in the next year.

Wagner, of Paramus, a three-term Democratic assemblywoman in the 38th legislative district said in a statement: "The only responsibility greater then serving as your Assemblywoman is my commitment as a wife, mother and grandmother.  In recent weeks it has become clear that my son, daughter in-law and soon to be born grandchild will need my assistance.   Over the next year I will be spending a great deal of time traveling back and forth between New Jersey and Florida. These circumstances make it impossible for me to seek re-election and therefore I must end my candidacy for the New Jersey State Assembly."

Wagner's running mates, Assemblyman Timothy Eustace of Maywood and Senator Bob Gordon of Fair Lawn, will now have to continue without her.

Wagner was first elected to the state Assembly in 2007 and was seeking a fourth term.

"I am so proud of what we have been able to accomplish in improving public education, expanding healthcare opportunities for women and children and giving municipalities the ability to operate more efficiently," said Wagner. 

She also pledged to continue to "advocate as a citizen for the causes I believe in."

A longtime resident of Paramus, Wagner is a former guidance counselor at Paramus High School. She was a borough councilwoman and a Bergen County Freeholder before she was elected to the state assembly.

Wagner had notified members of the Democratic Party on Monday night, according to PolitickerNJ.com.

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