Former "Saturday Night Live" comedian and Donald Trump backer Joe Piscopo said Wednesday that he will not launch an independent campaign to succeed Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Piscopo announced the decision during his radio show, telling a live audience at an event in Paramus that he doesn't want to be a divider.
In this Nov. 5, 2016, file photo, actor, comedian and radio host Joe Piscopo gestures to the audience before a speech by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in Tampa, Fla. Piscopo is giving up on running as a Republican for governor to succeed Chris Christie, but the former "Saturday Night Live" cast member is "more serious" than ever about running as an independent, he said in an interview with The Associated Press.
A comedian best known for his Frank Sinatra impression on "Saturday Night Live" won't run as a Republican in New Jersey's upcoming governor's race, but Joe Piscopo says he is "more serious than ever" about joining the field as an independent. A longtime Democrat until recently and a backer of President Donald Trump, Piscopo's potential candidacy to replace Republican Gov. Chris Christie has been a constant question mark in New Jersey, which along with Virginia is one of only two governor's races in the U.S. this year.
"I'm not raising money, and I haven't officially declared," said Piscopo in an telephone interview with NJ Advance Media on Thursday afternoon. The former "Saturday Night Live" star, who was raised in North Caldwell and now lives in Lebanon Township in Hunterdon County, said he is "just doing due diligence" and exploring a run for governor, speaking to Republican leaders in the state about what would be involved.