Despite a strong grip of the city council, Choi worked hard during his 4 years as Mayor to try to take control of and reform the local Democratic Party but was unable to gain the majority. Despite the progress made, in June 2009, Choi lost his re-election narrowly (3%) in the Democratic primary during the height of the economic recession. Early Obama support On July 27, 2007, Choi endorsed United States Senator Barack Obama for president in the 2008 election, becoming one of the earliest elected officials in New Jersey to support Obama whereas most of the party establishment supported then frontrunner Sen. Hillary Clinton. Choi, pledged to Obama, was a candidate for Democratic District Delegate in the Tenth Democratic District in New Jersey, which is composed of the 17th and 18th legislative districts. The New Jersey presidential primary, coinciding with Super Tuesday, took place on February 5, 2008. In February 2009, Choi was one of the first group of Mayors nationwide to officially visit President Obama at the White House along with members of the cabinet. Congressional run In May 2011, Choi announced that he would be seeking the Democratic nomination to replace Republican incumbent Congressman Leonard Lance in 2012. He outraised Lance early on in the campaign raising nearly $350,000 in 2011. He was supported by the majority of the leadership in Middlesex County including County Chair Peter Barnes, Jr., his son Assemblyman Peter Barnes, III, Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan, Jr., Mayor Dan Reiman of Carteret, State Senator Robert Smith and all 7 council members in Edison. In December 2011, Choi placed his campaign on hold after redistricting put his town of Edison in the 6th Congressional District. Choi endorsed Frank Pallone, the Democratic incumbent in the 6th District, for the 2012 cycle and is awaiting the next opportunity. See also Korean Americans in New York City References External links Mayoral campaign Korean American Jun Choi Shines in Local Politics South Korean emigrants to the United States American mayors of Korean descent American politicians of Korean descent Asian-American people in New Jersey politics Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni Living people 1971 births School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University alumni J. P. Stevens High School alumni People from Edison, New Jersey Mayors of Edison, New Jersey 21st-century American politicians