Andy Kim rejoices as clerks withdraw appeal on New Jersey county line ruling

Every county clerk who appealed U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi’s decision to overturn the “county line” in New Jersey’s Democratic primary has taken back their appeal in another win for Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ).

The majority of the county clerks named in Kim’s lawsuit originally appealed the judge’s decision, citing concerns about its timing during the election cycle. However, on Thursday, all the county clerks involved have withdrawn their opposition.

“As I have stated previously, this appeal was about the timing of the federal court’s decision and the immediate impact on ballot preparation and the election process,” Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello said in a statement. “The denial of a stay means that the ballot design and drawing of candidate positions will proceed as ordered by the Court. At this time, my office will move forward in preparing ballots for mailing for the upcoming NJ primary election.”

Camden County Democrats, however, are still moving forward with the appeal.

“Something incredible just happened. Every NJ county has formally or publicly indicated they will drop their opposition to the court order for fair office block ballots,” Kim posted on X. “Camden County Dem Committee is now alone in continuing to appeal. Our team is ready to keep fighting to protect our democracy. Whatever it takes.”

Camden County was originally at the center of controversy in the Garden State after they did not allow Kim, or Patricia Campos-Medina, another candidate in the U.S. Senate race to unseat indicted Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), to enter the convention. Camden County had already endorsed New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy in the race before her exit.

“It’s tough enough to be a woman in NJ politics with its history of harassment and intimidation, but to be confronted by five men who did not have any IDs or credentials to stop me at the Camden County Democrats Committee meeting is bullying and harassment and is unacceptable behavior,” Campos-Medina said.

“When Patricia shows up and is right there at the building, how do you not let a Senate candidate into the building to just at least be able to say a few words?” Kim said, adding that he was also rejected from entering the meeting.

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Quraishi’s decision only applies to this year’s Democratic primary, but Republicans are free to redesign their ballots. Last month, he ruled in favor of Kim’s lawsuit against 19 county clerks who used the line, granting a preliminary injunction to remove it on this year’s ballot.

The county line historically gave well-connected New Jerseyans up to a 38-point advantage in elections as it placed party-backed candidates together on the ballot. New Jersey’s primary is June 4.