Guadagno picks Cuban-born mayor as her lt. governor candidate

WEST NEW YORK  — New Jersey's Republican candidate for governor on Thursday selected as her lieutenant governor a Cuban-born mayor who supported U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's presidential bid.

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno announced Woodcliff Lake Mayor Carlos Rendo as her running mate during an announcement in West New York.

The attorney was 2 years old when his family immigrated to the United States in 1966. He co-chaired Rubio's presidential team in New Jersey in 2016, when Rubio challenged Gov. Chris Christie and others for the GOP nomination.

"His story embodies the American dream and is a testament to all that is possible in New Jersey," Guadagno said. "As mayor of Woodcliff Lake, Carlos has built a reputation as a strong, bipartisan leader and advocate for lower taxes, open space and transparent government. As lieutenant governor, he will put that experience to work for New Jersey families to help me lower property taxes and audit all aspects of Trenton."

Rendo said that he shares Guadagno's vision for the state and will work to lower taxes.

Guadagno, who is the first to serve in the new position after running on a ticket with Christie twice, is looking to succeed the governor, who can't seek a third term.

The lieutenant governor oversees the state department, including elections, and serves as governor when the sitting governor is out of the state or leaves office before the term ends.

Guadagno's Democratic opponent, Phil Murphy, on Wednesday picked Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver as his running mate. Oliver was the first black woman to serve as Assembly speaker.

Oliver said in a statement Thursday that Guadagno's choice doesn't "paper over the failures of Chris Christie and Kim Guadagno."

"It's time for new leadership that throws away the Christie-Guadagno blueprint and draws a new vision of growth and fairness for our state," she said.

Green Party candidate Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale this week chose media commentator Lisa Durden as his running mate.

Durden is a former Essex County community college adjunct professor who was fired after officials at the school said she made racially insensitive comments on Fox News. College officials said they received complaints about Durden's interview with host Tucker Carlson.

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