Frank Lautenberg Dies at 89: Democrat N.J. Senator Mourned on Twitter

News spread rapidly on Twitter Monday that U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey had died due to complications from viral pneumonia.

At 89, Lautenberg, a Democrat, was the oldest member of the Senate. He would have been up for reelection in 2014, but announced earlier this year that he would retire at the end of his term.

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Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), the oldest member of the Senate, has died. He was my senator, and he was 89. northjersey.com/news/national/…

— Marshall Cohen (@Marshall_Cohen) June 3, 2013

RIP to Senator Frank Lautenberg.He was a good man.

— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) June 3, 2013

U.S. Senator from New Jersey, Frank Lautenberg, dies thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/breaking-us-se…

— Richelle C. Brown (@BirchCelloWren) June 3, 2013

Senator Frank Lautenberg, a New Jersey Democrat, dies this morning, his office says. He was 89.

— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) June 3, 2013

N.J. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a WWII veteran who planned to retire next year, has died, a senior Democrat confirmed to @politico.

— Elizabeth Titus (@emtitus) June 3, 2013

RIP to Senator Frank Lautenberg.He was a good man.

— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) June 3, 2013

Lautenberg had reportedly been battling a number of health issues this year, missing several votes while spending time outside of Washington.

Lautenberg's death opens up a seat in the U.S. Senate that will be filled by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican.

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