Longshot Republican says he has enough signatures to reach gubernatorial ballot

Justin Barbera, a Republican from Burlington County, said he obtained the 2,500 signatures necessary to reach the Republican gubernatorial primary ballot.

Barbera, a contractor by trade, is a relative unknown in the world of New Jersey politics. He ran as a conservative third-party candidate in the 3rd congressional district last November in the race to succeed now-Senator Andy Kim. He finished with 0.3% of the vote. Now-Rep. Herb Conaway Jr. beat his Republican opponent by about 9 percentage points. 

The conservative arrived in Trenton to file on Monday after what he called a “long, arduous” signature-gathering process.

He admitted he’s a longshot candidate but thinks there’s a path to victory if he can get in front of enough voters.

“Every time I speak, when I get the opportunity to speak, I get a warm welcome,” Barbera told the New Jersey Globe. “I always get interrupted in my speeches by explosive applause. I’m speaking for the people.”

Barbera filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission last month.

He criticized the Legislature and Gov. Phil Murphy for a bill increasing the number of signatures candidates need to reach the ballot. The bill, which Murphy signed last month, requires gubernatorial candidates to receive 2,500 signatures, up from 1,000.

“It eliminates the common man’s voice,” Barbera said. “Makes it more difficult.”

Barbera told the New Jersey Globe that should he be elected governor, he would take executive action to protect gun rights, lower taxes on social security and pension payments, and institute cost-of-living adjustments for police.