Sen. Frank Lautenberg
Sad news:
Sne. Frank Lautenberg died this morning of viral pneumonia at age 89, his office said.
The oldest member of the Senate, Lautenberg had struggled with health problems since late last year, when he missed several weeks of votes because of what he said was flu and bronchitis.
Lautenberg, who had been in the Senate from 1982 to 2001 and returned in 2003, had announced that he would not run again in 2014. Lautenberg's name was familiar to any who takes the New Jersey Transit through the Secaucus Junction hub named after him. Also:
Lautenberg death brings to an end the service of WWII veterans in the US Senate
— @samsteinhp via TweetDeck
Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will appoint a replacement to fill the seat.
6:51 AM PT:
Sen. Lautenberg's last vote was in April, when he came back, in a wheelchair, to support the gun bill. Chamber filled with applause.
— @jbendery via web
8:45 AM PT (David Nir): A special election will also apparently be held this November, for the final year of Lautenberg's term. That will coincide with New Jersey's gubernatorial election, where Christie holds 30-point leads over Democrat Barbara Buono. A second election, for the full six-year term, would still take place as scheduled in 2014.