Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2025, released the following statement today after U.S. District Court Judge Zahid Quraishi granted a preliminary injunction that ends the organization line for the 2024 primary election and mandates office block voting:
“Today’s decision by Judge Quraishi was the right one. ‘The line’ is, and has always been, anti-democratic. We as a party have always known it was wrong and yet we lived with it for decades.
“From here, we can do two things: one, we can continue struggling to maintain a system that we know undermines our values and the people’s faith in our institutions. This is the wrong decision and it would undoubtedly further erode our standing as a party in New Jersey and around the country.
“Or two, we can end this now – no appeals, no political schemes, no more debate. The option and opportunity is right here to abide by the judge’s decision and begin to openly and collectively change the way we elect our representatives in this state. I am hopeful that we see the wisdom in embracing this moment. I hope we look past our present discomfort and embrace the future of what democracy will look like in New Jersey.”