Challenges for nominating petitions for three candidates for the Democratic nomination for Congress in New Jersey’s 10th district are expected to go before an administrative law judge this week.
Leslye Moya and the New Jersey Democratic State Committee (NJDSC) are challenging signatures on petitions for Brittany Claybrooks and Eugene Mazo, along with Mazo’s slogans.
Claybrooks has filed a challenge to LaMonica McIver’s petition signatures, objecting to issues involving signatures and the circulator.
“There is a clear obligation to make sure that the law has been followed in this filing process and we are of the belief that there are discrepancies that need to be properly reviewed and adjudicated,” said Moya, the co-executive director of the NJDSC. “We look forward to an expedited process in that regard so that this important Democratic primary can begin to fully take shape.”
Moya cited abnormalities in the two petitions, and cited issues related to those filed by Lisa McCormick in the 2021 Democratic gubernatorial primary. McCormick’s controversial life partner, James Devine, has been indicted to submitted fake signatures.
“While the compressed time frame to collect and submit signatures may have been challenging for some, the ability to successfully, and legally, meet that deadline to qualify was a tremendous initial indicator of possible worthy successors to fill the giant void created by the loss of the great Donald Payne, Jr,” Moya said.
The filing deadline for the July 16 special Democratic primary to fill the unexpired term of the Payne was last Friday. Today was the deadline to challenge those petitions.
Typically, administrative law judges are among the most efficient in the judiciary on election matters. Hearings will be set expeditiously, and determinations are usually made in real-time.
Eight other candidates who filed face no challenges, including Debra Salters; she filed with 213 signatures, just thirteen more than needed.