Three Republicans and four Democrats are vying for the open New Jersey House seat.
After one potential Republican congressional candidate decided not to run, a third GOP hopeful has emerged to seek his party's nomination to succeed Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen.
Investment banker Antony Ghee of Totowa joins Assemblyman Jay Webber, R-Morris, and lawyer Martin Hewitt in the Republican race.
Ghee, who was a lawyer before becoming a director at Bank of America Merrill Lynch's global wealth and investment management chief investment office, said Republicans should look at someone other than a current officeholder.
Pro-Trump Republican gets big boost
"Do we nominate a career politician in an age when most people don't trust their government or the people serving, or do we seize this opportunity to do something bold and energize our party heading into the general election?" Ghee said in his announcement.
"Without question we must do the latter, which is why I am announcing my candidacy for Congress."
Like President Donald Trump, he made overhauling immigration laws a top plank of his campaign, talking about securing the borders and ending illegal immigration, but not mentioning the 17,400 unauthorized immigrants in New Jersey brought to the U.S. as children that could face deportation.
Ghee also promised to work with the president and members of Congress of both parties to secure federal help for the Gateway Tunnel project under the Hudson River, even as the Trump administration appeared to renege on earlier funding promises.
His announcement included endorsements from state Sen. Kristin Corrado, R-Passaic, herself once mentioned as a potential candidate; and two Assembly members, Kevin Rooney, R-Passaic, and Christopher DePhillips, R-Bergen. The three state legislators, running together, won a hotly contested Republican primary last year.
Webber earlier this week picked up the support of a fellow Morris County Assembly Republican, Anthony Bucco, who also had considered running for the seat.
Frelinghuysen, R-11th Dist., announced in January that he would not seek re-election after 24 years in Washington. As as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, he is the most powerful member of the New Jersey congressional delegation.
The 11th District is considered a toss-up race by the two Washington-based publications that track congressional races, the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections.
Five Democrats are seeking their party's nomination, Mikie Sherrill, who has the backing of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee; Tamara Harris; Mitchell Cobert; Jack Gebbia; and Mark Washburne.
Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.