On December 20, 2012, Booker announced that he would explore running for the U.S. Senate seat that was then occupied by Frank Lautenberg in the 2014 election, ending speculation that he would challenge Governor Chris Christie in the 2013 gubernatorial election.[93] On January 11, 2013, Booker filed papers to form a campaign committee,[94] without announcing whether he would run.[95] Roughly one month later, incumbent Lautenberg—then 89 years of age—announced that he would not seek reelection in 2014.[96]