Updated: Rothman to Move to Englewood, Challenge Fellow Democrat

Rep. Steve Rothman will move to Englewood and run against fellow Democrat Bill Pascrell Jr. in the June primary for the newly configured 9th District, northjersey.com reported Monday night. 

In a statement issued Tuesday, Rothman confirmed he would run against Pascrell. NJ.com, citing three sources, reported Rothman started telling Democrats on Monday that would leave his hometown of Fair Lawn. 

“I have represented the Ninth Congressional District for the past 15 years and have lived here nearly my entire life. I look forward to continuing to represent this district," Rothman said in the statement. "We have more work to do together and I look forward to continuing to work for the people of Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic Counties and earning each of their votes on Election Day.” 

Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, Teaneck Mayor Mohamed Hameeduddin and Sen. Loretta Weinberg were among local elected officials supporting Rothman, the statement said. 

“Steve is an outstanding Congressman who has delivered nearly $2 billion in federal funding for New Jersey. We cannot afford to lose him,” Bergen County Democratic Chairman Lou Stellato said in the statement. 

Rothman was put into the "Republican-leaning" 5th District with Rep. Scott Garrett in last week's congressional redistricting, according to NJ.com. Reports have said Rothman would face a tough fight against Garrett, a conservative Republican with a toehold in Sussex County and Republican-controlled Bergen County towns.

PolitickerNJ.com, citing sources, said Garrett would hold a 53-47 advantage over Rothman were they to face each other. Sources told Politicker that in the new-look District 9, Rothman would retain 61 percent of his current constituents over Pascrell.

The newly formed 9th District will contain parts of Bergen, Passaic and Hudson counties. Teaneck was split in the re-drawn map. 

Rothman is a former Englewood mayor.

Editor's Note: Map of the newly drawn districts attached to this article.