Report: Popular N.J. Mayor Cory Booker to Run for Senate in 2014, Won't Challenge Christie for Governor

AP

Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D) will reportedly run for Senate in 2014 and not challenge Chris Christie for New Jersey governor next year, according to NBC New York.

Booker is expected to seek fellow Democrat Frank Lautenberg's seat when his term is up, meaning a possible primary challenge between Booker and the 88-year-old Lautenberg if Lautenberg runs for re-election.

Lautenberg was first elected to the Senate in 1982 before retiring in 2000. He replaced another Democrat on the ballot in 2002 and has been serving since, indicating he will seek re-election in 2014, according to Politico.

NBC New York reported Booker was expected to formally tweet his decision to his more than 1.3 million Twitter followers on Thursday.

Booker emerged this year as something of a rockstar within the Democratic Party. He said earlier this month he would be deciding soon whether to mount a challenge against Christie, a Republican, and said he was considering a Senate bid "a lot as well."