Days after a poll shows U.S. Senator Cory Booker losing a presidential bid in his home state, Stuart Meissner, former prosecutor and whistleblower attorney, formally announced a 2020 challenge to the incumbent Democratic senator following an exploratory committee formed this summer.

“After speaking to voters and activists around the state over the past few weeks, I have been struck by the overwhelming desire to replace New Jersey’s celebrity Senator with someone who is willing to actually work for the people of this state – not just chase votes in Iowa. It’s for this reason, along with continuing a lifelong passion for fighting for the middle-class, that I will present New Jersey voters with a real alternative to Cory Booker,” said Mesissner.

Booker does continue to have a positive job approval rating among New Jerseyans. A face-off with the junior senator would prove tough for any Republican in a state where Democrats outnumber their counterparts by 1 million registered voters. In 2018, an indictment-surviving U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) defeated a credible, financially well-connected GOP challenger by double digits.

And unpopular (in New Jersey) incumbent Republican President Donald J. Trump will be at the top off the ticket next year.

Still, Meissner said he is undaunted.

“New Jerseyans deserve a Senator who not only has their best interests at heart, but also one who can work with the Senate Majority to bring infrastructure dollars and property tax relief back to the state,” said the candidate.

He, in fact, noted that “the circumstances of the 2020 contest create a unique opportunity for a political outsider like himself.”

He has company in a GOP Primary. Tricia Flanagan and Hirsh Singh are both running.

Flanagan has already come out swinging at Meissner, when he formed an exploratory committee.

“While it’s been reported that Stuart Meissner became a Republican in 2016 after contributing $16 to President Donald Trump, one has to wonder exactly how conservative Mr. Meissner is,” Flanagan complained. “As recently as July 5^th Meissner took to Twitter to congratulate Melinda Katz on an apparent win in the Queens, NY District Attorney Democratic Primary. Katz, it was reported, ran as a progressive and had the backing of the Democratic Party machine politicians.

But Meissner likes his own story.

The son of a Jewish immigrant who fled Nazi Germany one day after Kristallnacht, Meissner grew up to be a prosecutor taking on organized crime, violent criminals, child predators, and fraudsters. When he entered private practice, he said his goal was a simple one: protecting the interests of average investors and middle-class families. Under his representation, Meissner obtained a multi-million-dollar award for his client and fine against the mega agribusiness and chemical company Monsanto.

The candidate said he intends to “represent the people of New Jersey by speaking truth to power as he as always done throughout the course of his 31-year career. He will fight to reduce the middle-class tax burden, lower prescription drugs prices and healthcare costs, take on big tech and protect our privacy rights.”

The candidate raised two teenagers – Kaitlyn and Dylan – in Bergen County.

Along with this announcement, the Meissner campaign released a web video titled “Fighter” which you can find here www.meissnerforsenate.com.