Somerset County Democratic Vice Chair Zenon Christodoulou told InsiderNJ he's not challenging incumbent state Senator Kip Bateman (R-16) this year.

"I have no interest in running for senate," Christodoulou said. "I'm not running for senate this year."

The professor of economics and voracious party fundraiser - a key early backer of Phil Murphy for Governor - showed up at a U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7) town hall meeting this past Saturday and gave a pro-USA speech at the microphone.