NJ ‘Tan Mom’ Patricia Krentcil, formerly of Nutley, to run for U.S. Senate

Erik Larsen, Asbury Park Press
·2 min read
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Patricia Krentcil, 44, waits to be arraigned at the Essex County Superior Court, Wednesday, May 2, 2012 in Newark, N.J., where she appeared on charges of endangering her 5-year-old child by taking her into a tanning salon.
Patricia Krentcil, 44, waits to be arraigned at the Essex County Superior Court, Wednesday, May 2, 2012 in Newark, N.J., where she appeared on charges of endangering her 5-year-old child by taking her into a tanning salon.

Patricia Krentcil, a former Nutley resident, who gained national notoriety as “Tan Mom” a decade ago, after she took her then-5-year-old daughter to a tanning salon, is now a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Florida.

TMZ first reported the story on Tuesday and paperwork filed with the Federal Election Commission on the same day confirms that Krentcil intends to run against incumbent Sen. Rick Scott, who is seeking a second term, in the 2024 GOP primary.

Krentcil, 55, acknowledged that although the issues she cares about make her “sound like a Democrat,” she told TMZ that she has always been a Republican.

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“I was horrified about the book banning here in Florida,” Krentcil said in an interview with the tabloid media outlet; the video of which was posted on its website. Also, she said she was troubled by ”Medicaid, just being abominably banished.”

In 2013, Krentcil was charged with child endangerment for taking her 5-year-old daughter to a tanning salon. An Essex County grand jury later declined to indict Krentcil over the matter. However, the issue inspired legislation that prohibits anyone under 17 from using a commercial tanning bed, which Gov. Chris Christie signed into law that same year.

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Krentcil became something of a celebrity after the initial controversy started in 2012. She made dozens of TV and radio appearances — becoming a frequent guest on “The Howard Stern Show.” She also launched a self-tanning product and started writing an autobiography. She also tried her hand at music, with a song titled “Free 2 Be Me.”

“Tan Mom” eventually moved away from New Jersey and today lives in Boca Raton, according to FEC documents.

“I don’t want to be known as what I was, as Tan Mom,” Krentcil told TMZ. “I’ve grown and I’m here to help, and want to help people that are struggling. … Maybe more Republicans should have a different taste in their mouth when they’re trying to help people in the world today.”

Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ ‘Tan Mom’ to run for U.S. Senate