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In a landmark decision today, a federal judge ruled in favor of U.S. Senate candidate and current Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), alongside other Democratic congressional candidates, to block New Jersey's contentious "county line" ballot design ahead of the state's June 4 primary elections.
Under the now-prohibited primary ballot design, candidates endorsed by party leadership at county-level conventions were typically grouped together in a shared column known as the "county line." Conversely, candidates not endorsed by county party leadership were often displayed separately.
Rep. Andy Kim, along with U.S. House candidates Sarah Schoengood and Carolyn Rush, highlighted in their February complaint how New Jersey's primary ballot configuration differed significantly from other states where candidates are grouped by the office they seek.
Before the ruling, 19 out of 21 New Jersey counties utilized the "county line" system, which the lawsuit alleged was discriminatory and unfairly preferential to party-supported candidates.
Rep. Andy Kim hailed the decision as a victory for fairer and more democratic politics in New Jersey, crediting grassroots activists for their efforts to rectify an undemocratic system.
The lawsuit argued that the ballot design violated the U.S. Constitution, citing studies showing significant variations in candidates' vote shares based on whether they appeared on the county line.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin declined to defend the "county line," stating that the plaintiffs presented substantial evidence challenging the statutes as undermining the democratic process.
In a 49-page opinion, Judge Zahid Quraishi, appointed by President Biden, concluded that the plaintiffs had provided credible evidence of constitutional violations and minimal harm to defendants in implementing the requested ballot design.
Judge Quraishi rejected arguments from county defendants that it was too late to disrupt the status quo, noting that the case was filed well before the primary election deadline.
Antoinette Miles, state director of the New Jersey chapter of the progressive Working Families Party, praised the ruling as historic, stating it would strengthen democracy by empowering voters in candidate selection.
Tammy Murphy, Kim's primary opponent and wife of Governor Phil Murphy, recently withdrew from the race, further solidifying Kim's chances of winning the Democratic nomination.
Litigation will continue in Kim's lawsuit following the preliminary ruling, with uncertainty over whether county defendants will appeal to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Meanwhile, a separate federal lawsuit challenging the "county line" remains ongoing.
