Unanue issues withdrawal statement

After less than three weeks as a U.S. Senate candidate, Andy Unanue formally withdrew his candidacy today. 

Saying that he has no regrets about stepping into the race, Unanue issued a statement today after his committee on vacancies filed paperwork with the Division of Elections designating former Rep. Dick Zimmer as his replacement.

Unanue cited business commitments and opportunities as his primary reason for withdrawal. 

"After much thought and careful consideration, I have decided to end my candidacy for U.S. Senate.  I made the decision to enter the race after serious deliberation and I have no regrets.  My decision to withdraw is based on an equally thorough deliberation,” he said.  "I have concluded that my extensive business commitments along with new business opportunities that have recently presented themselves would prevent me from dedicating myself fully to a statewide campaign."

But Unanue also pledged to play a “significant role” in his successor’s Senate campaign.

“I look forward to working with him and I urge my supporters to support Dick Zimmer as energetically as they have supported me,” he said.

Unanue,40, entered the race on Easter Sunday while on vacation in Vail, Colo., sending a letter to GOP State Chairman Tom Wilson announcing his intention to run.  He was a de facto replacement for businesswoman Anne Evans Estabrook --  who had just withdrawn after suffering a minor stroke – inheriting her still-intact campaign infrastructure.   Now Zimmer will take on the campaign that was essentially begun by Estabrook. 

Unanue's entrance was greeted with excitement from Republican officials, who saw in his youth, wealth and Hispanic heritage a potentially groundbreaking candidate.

But those hopes were dashed within days of his entrance, after he was hounded by questions stemming from an intra-family business dispute during his tenure as Chief Operating Officer of Goya Foods, and the fact that he did not live in New Jersey.

Still, even though he remained at his vacation home in Vail, Colo. during most of his candidacy, Unanue managed to rack up county lines in Atlantic, Cape May, Camden, Mercer, Essex, Hudson, Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

Some of those counties’ Republican chairmen offered praise to Unanue today, as did Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson.

"The Republican Party owes a huge debt of gratitude to Andy Unanue foraccepting the call to duty," he said. 

Unanue was recruited to the race by his close friend and personal attorney, Bergen County Republican Chairman Rob Ortiz, who expressed sadness at today’s news.

"I am personally saddened by Andy's decision not to continue his candidacy, but I respect his choice and know that he will continue to be involved with strengthening the GOP for the future,” he said.

Cape May County was the first to give Unanue the line.  Its Republican chairman, David Von Savage, said that he would have run a competitive race against either Democratic incumbent Senator Frank Lautenberg or his more prominent primary challenger, Rep. Rob Andrews.

"Andy would have beaten Lautenberg or Andrews or whomever the Democrats put up because he represents the kind of change that people want,” he said.  “I am grateful for his willingness to enter the too often nasty world of politics and proud to have been an early and consistent supporter."