NJ Sen. Frank Lautenberg, RIP

NJ Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D) has passed away, according to Fox News.

The 89-year-old Democrat was New Jersey’s longest-serving senator. He had retired from the Senate, but returned in a questionable swap when Democrat Robert Torricelli ran into ethical problems on the eve of the 2002 election and resigned the nomination 35 days from the election. The deadline for the Democrats to switch candidates had already expired, but the New Jersey Supreme Court allowed the party to swap Lautenberg in for the Torch, and Lautenberg won the seat. He had served ever since.

Gov. Chris Christie (R) will appoint Lautenberg’s successor.