One of the Democratic candidates running in next week’s 12th district congressional primary has filed to run as an independent in the general election, a likely violation of New Jersey’s Sore Loser law.
Matt Adams, a former two-term Middlesex Borough councilman and retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve JAG Corps, joined the race to succeed Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) four months ago but never broke out from the pack of twelve candidates; he raised almost $86,000 – his most recent report two weeks ago put his cash-on-hand at $19,821 — but did not qualify for a place on the New Jersey Globe/Rider University debate stage last month.
His filed petitions with the Division of Elections that included 287 signatures – 37 more than he needs to qualify – under the “Integrity, Accountability, Leadership” slogan.
The New Jersey Legislature enacted a sore loser law in 1998 to prevent defeated primary candidates from competing again in the general election. That year, Carl Mayer lost a Democratic primary in NJ-12 and then sought to run as the Green Party candidate in NJ-6. Courts have upheld the law and enforced it against candidates who tried to switch to an independent candidacy after participating in a primary campaign.
It’s not immediately clear whether the Division of Elections will certify his petition – the candidate list is unofficial – or if the call will be left up to an administrative law judge.