U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a former Bill Clinton speechwriter heading into his ninth year as a Democratic congressman, formally launched a bid for New Jersey governor on Friday, escalating an already crowded race expected to soon get even bigger.
The Bergen County lawmaker and prolific fundraiser has long been expected to enter next year’s heated battle to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. Gottheimer is the fifth major Democrat — and ninth major candidate overall — to join the primary for the open seat.