Comedian Vinnie Brand, a Republican, is taking a hard look at a run this year for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Democrat Cory Booker.

A friend of state Senator Jon Bramnick (R-21), Brand appeared last night at O'Bramnick's to help honor the service of Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz and Michele Matsikoudis. Former Governor Chris Christie was also in the room.

"If I run, I'm going to get trounced," Brand cracked.

Bramnick spoke highly of his friend.

"He doesn't sound like a politician," said the state senator. "He's relatively conservative but gets the fact that you can't do whatever [President Donald] Trump tells you to do."

According to Brand's website:

"I was born and raised in New Jersey and am one of the creators, the other being my longtime partner and collaborator my wife Vicki Brand, of the World Famous (my world of course) Stress Factory Comedy Clubs in New Brunswick NJ, and Bridgeport Connecticut," writes the prospective Republican senate candidate.

"The greatest comics in the world have graced the stages there and continue to do so every year. I started doing standup at 28 or so, late in the game by Chappelle's standards, and quit doing anything else non-comedy-related soon after. As a young guy doing stand-up, I opened an open mic in downtown New Brunswick for college students. I wanted more stage time to develop and thought the open mic was a wonderful way to do so."