Independent Ramon Mora, Jr. will remain on the ballot as a candidate for Congress in New Jersey’s 2nd district after Democrats withdrew their challenge this morning.
After a six-hour hearing on Tuesday and a review of additional signatures today, Democrats said the math did not work for them, and there were not enough signatures remaining to bring Mora down the 250 required to be on the ballot. Mora had filed 411 signatures.
“I knew the establishment was going to challenge my petitions,” Mora said.
Mora, a 31-year-old Vineland resident, is the lone independent candidate in the 2nd district contest between four-term Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) and his Democratic challenger, Cape May Mayor Zach Mullock. Mora is a progressive, and Democrats worry that he might take votes from Mullock if the race were to suddenly tighten.
He said he’s not worried about being a spoiler in a race against Van Drew and would not get out if the contest became tighter in late summer.
“I’m in for the duration, no matter what,” Mora told the New Jersey Globe. “I would blame the Democrats for not selecting a more progressive candidate. I didn’t like any of them.”
Mora disputed his possible role as a spoiler, saying he can “pull out votes they can’t turn out on their own.
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February 25, 2026 -
