Former News 12 reporter Alex Zdan announced this morning he is ending his campaign for the Republican nomination for a U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey currently held by Bob Menendez.

In a statement, Zdan, who was running in first political campaign following a long and respected career as a journalist, noted that he wanted to avoid a long and contentious primary fight.

“While I am incredibly proud to have received so much support from people looking for a new voice in Washington and to have received the endorsements of Monmouth and Passaic Counties, I believe it is best to avoid a long, contentious and expensive Senate primary,” Zdan said in his statement.

“A contested primary would deny our eventual nominee 10 weeks to party build, organize support throughout the state, and explain to voters why it’s time to send a Republican to the Senate for the first time in decades. Therefore, today I’m ending my campaign for U.S. Senate,” Zdan continued.

“This campaign focused on the issues that impact every American: border security, fighting corruption, standing strong against the Chinese Communist Party, and protecting parental rights. I plan to stay very involved in New Jersey politics because I believe Washington and New Jersey are broken, and we need leaders willing to stand up for authentic conservative principles, help our party win races, and prove that New Jersey is not a permanently blue state,” he added.

As a reporter, Zdan gained respect for his hard-hitting questions of politicians on both sides of the aisle, and especially of Governor Phil Murphy during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Zdan’s departure now leaves real estate developer Curtis Bashaw and Mendham Township Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner to battle it out for the rest of the primary, the winner of which will face Rep. Andy Kim.

Governor Murphy’s wife, First lady Tammy Murphy, announced on Sunday that she too is ending her campaign for the same seat.

New Jersey has not elected a Republican to either of its U.S. Senate seats since 1972 – the longest active streak of all states other than Hawaii.