GOP LD20 candidate barred from ballot after Dems argue he lives in Evesham, not Elizabeth

A Republican candidate for Assembly in the safely Democratic 20th legislative district has been ruled ineligible for the ballot by an administrative law judge after Democrats successfully argued that his main residence is in Evesham – far outside the boundaries of the district – rather than Elizabeth.

Richard Tabor, a New Jersey state trooper stationed in Bordentown, testified yesterday that his primary residence is a public housing unit in Elizabeth, thus making him eligible to run for the Union County-based district. He produced a number of documents to support his claims, including a driver’s license and lease agreement; he is also registered to vote in Elizabeth.

A challenge brought by Elizabeth Democratic Chair Maria Carvalho, however, pointed out the inconsistencies in Tabor’s residency claims. Tabor’s family – he has six children with his wife, from whom he says he is separated but not divorced – resides in Evesham in a home on which Tabor is listed as the sole owner, and he said he still spends some nights there while spending other nights in Elizabeth.

William Jones, the executive director of the Housing Authority of Elizabeth, testified against Tabor’s residency claims as well, saying that he does not believe Tabor resides at the Elizabeth public housing unit and that it is instead used to house New Life Directions, a community outreach program run by Tabor. Jones had sent a letter to Secretary of State Tahesha Way stating that Tabor was not domiciled in Elizabeth public housing, a letter which he said he was asked to write by Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage.

The evidence presented by Raj Parikh, who argued the case for Carvalho, was convincing enough to Administrative Law Judge Patrice Hobbs that she ordered Tabor to be removed from the ballot.

“Based on a preponderance of the competent and credible evidence, I CONCLUDE that Richard Tabor is domiciled in Evesham Township,” Hobbs wrote today. “It is where he intends to live and make his home. It is where his wife and children live, and he and his wife are not legally separated or divorced. The documentary evidence is inconsistent and inconclusive.”

As Hobbs noted in her opinion, this isn’t the first time that Tabor has faced residency challenges. He tried to run for mayor of Elizabeth in 2024, and was kicked off the ballot for the same reason, a decision that was upheld in state Superior Court.

Hobbs’ ruling, which is still subject to review by Way, leaves Republicans a candidate short in the 20th district, a deep-blue seat that includes Elizabeth, Union Township, Roselle, and Kenilworth. The other Republican candidate for the seat, tailor and perennial candidate Carmen Bucco, faced no challenges to his candidacy.

Democrats have a four-way primary for the district’s two seats. Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-Elizabeth) is running alongside Union County Commissioner Sergio Granados (D-Elizabeth) after Assemblyman Reginald Atkins (D-Roselle) decided to forgo re-election; they’re being challenged by Eduardo Rodriguez and Walter Wimbush.