Ballot appeal

and Salem and Sussex counties.

The deadline for candidates to join New Jersey’s June 4 primary passed last week and ballots are scheduled to be mailed to voters at the end of April.

The line – a quirk of New Jersey politics – is the preferred ballot position given to candidates backed by county political organizations and has long been targeted for reform.

Kim had filed the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of New Jersey’s controversial ballot design last month while he was in a primary battle with first lady Tammy Murphy for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

The seat is currently held by Sen. Bob Menendez. Murphy has since dropped out of the race.

Kim has until noon on Monday to respond to the motion to stay the order.

Clerks from Atlantic, Bergen, Burligton, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Union counties are participating in the appeal.

In his preliminary opinion, Quraishi said that he “recognizes the magnitude” of the decision.

“The integrity of the democratic process for a primary election is at stake and the remedy plaintiffs are seeking is extraordinary. Mandatory injunctive relief is reserved only for the most unusual cases. Plaintiffs’ burden on this motion is therefore particularly heavy,” Quraishi said. “Nevertheless, the court finds, based on this record, that plaintiffs have met their burden and that this is the rare instance when mandatory relief is warranted.”

Kim told reporters on Friday afternoon that the line lawsuit was bigger than his race and that “others have been fighting this fight” before he got involved.

“The sheer scrutiny and press attention and national attention on this did show how the line can be used in unfair ways,” Kim said.

“It made for a very clear story that helped crystalize this for a lot of people.”

Attorneys for the Morris County Republican Committee have also filed to confirm that the order issued by Quraishi is specific to the Democratic primary this June and not the Republican primary as well.

That filing, made by attorneys Peter King and Matthew Moench, notes that Kim’s complaint defined the “2024 primary” as the upcoming 2024 Democratic primary election.

“If the court’s order does extend to the 2024 Republican primary, we ask that the order be stayed as to the Republican primary and to permit the MCRC to intervene before the court specifically as to the applicability of the order to the Republican primary, an election to which the plaintiffs have no interest and to which no relief can be provided based on this current matter,” their letter says.

Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com