Steve Lonegan has lost the GOP nomination in the race to replace outgoing Rep. Jon Runyan (R-N.J.), the Associated Press reports.
Lonegan, a tea party-backed businessman and former mayor of Bogota, New Jersey, was defeated by Tom MacArthur, another former mayor, in what was described by Runyan as an "ugly" battle.
The Huffington Post's Amanda Terkel and Samantha Lachman offered more details on the race earlier this week:
Even a former NFL offensive tackle thinks this Republican primary is a nasty one. The impending retirement of Rep. Jon Runyan (R-N.J.), a former Eagles player, initiated what he called an "ugly as hell" Republican primary between two ex-mayors -- insurance executive and former Randolph Mayor Tom MacArthur and former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan. Neither MacArthur, who has kicked in $2 million of his own money, nor Lonegan, a tea party favorite, hail from the bellwether district, which Obama won in both of the last presidential elections. Each campaign is accusing the other of bullying and dishonesty, and MacArthur has filed a defamation suit in response to Lonegan's accusations that he defrauded insurance claimants. Runyan has endorsed MacArthur, in a signal that the state's Republican establishment fears Democrats could pick up the seat if Lonegan, who lost to Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) last year, is the nominee. Burlington County freeholder and attorney Aimee Belgard is expected to clinch the Democratic nomination.
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