Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Christie Picks NJ Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa As Interim Senator
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 6, 2013
Modified Jun 6, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 6, 2013
Modified Jun 6, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
NJ Senator Frank Lautenberg's death prompted speculation about what NJ Governor Chris Christie would do, given that the seat is highly coveted by both political parties. Earlier this week, Christie announced the special election would be in October (much to Democrats' outrage because it'll cost $25 million), and now he's announced that his pick to fill the seat is NJ's current Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa.
Chiesa grew up in in Bound Brook with two younger sisters. His father worked at a chemical plant and died when Chiesa was 8, leaving his mother -- a public school teacher-- to raise him and his two sisters. He graduated from Notre Dame in 1987, and returns every year to see a football game. He earned his law degree from the Catholic University of America in 1990 and a year later joined the Cranford law firm now known as Dughi & Hewit. It was there that he met Christie.
Chiesa followed Christie to the U.S. Attorney's Office in 2002. He became Christie's trusted eyes and ears, and led some of the office's most high-profile public corruption cases, like the one against former state Senate president John Lynch. He moved again in 2009 after Christie was elected governor, taking the reins of his transition team.
Chiesa will not run in the special election.
The AP notes, "As attorney general, he has overseen gun buyback programs all over the state, but has not had a particularly high profile." However one sting was high-profile: "Operation Swill," which revealed numerous restaurants, including many TGIF's, were using dirty water or even rubbing alcohol in premium drink bottles and duping customers.
Tagged
Chris Christie
frank lautenberg
governor christie
jeffrey chiesa
nj
special election
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
ICE agent fires 7 rounds, shoots man in neck in NYC's Marble Hill, NYPD says
Police say the man arrived at a hospital in stable condition and a 5-year-old boy in his SUV is safe.
By
Giulia Heyward
and
Arya Sundaram
Published Oct 8, 2026 at 5:33 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 8, 2026 at 11:48 p.m. ET
Lazy drivers in Prospect Heights lose chance for 1 less day of alternate-side parking
A pilot found that drivers actually complied with alternate-side less when fewer days were in effect.
By
Liam Quigley
News
Lazy drivers in Prospect Heights lose chance for 1 less day of alternate-side parking
A pilot found that drivers actually complied with alternate-side less when fewer days were in effect.
By
Liam Quigley
Jersey City mayor shakes up staff amid $255M budget gap
By
Michael Sol Warren
Bronx residents will be exempt from new Medicaid work rule, state officials say
By
Caroline Lewis
MTA chair accuses Andy Byford, who's leading Penn Station rebuild, of going 'full MAGA'
By
Stephen Nessen
and
Carol Chen
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .