As state officials consider how to handle an independent State Senate candidate being left off the ballot in the part of the 29th district in advance of next week’s certification of election results, the Division of Elections has given the candidate, Pablo Olivera, until 5 PM on December 4 to tell them if he plans to contest the election.
Olivera’s name was not included in the Hudson County portion of the 29th district in a challenge to Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz.
“Given that your name was omitted, you may have the right to contest the results of the 2023 General Election in an appropriate court,” said Lauren Zyriek, acting director of the Division of Elections.
Olivera’s response could impact the decision of the State Board of Canvassers when they meet on December 7.
But Olivera hinted that he won’t contest the election.
“You know as well as I how corrupt Essex and Hudson counties are. You know if I challenge the results, nothing is going to happen,” Olivera said. “That is why the majority of the people do not vote at all. They lost the faith in the system.”
A retired Newark teacher who has run for office fourteen times, Olivera’s name appeared on the ballot in Newark, but not in Harrison and East Newark, the two Hudson municipalities that were added to the 29th district in redistricting.
Ruiz won 83% of the vote in a three-way race against Republican Maritza Matthews and Olivera.
This story was updated at 6:47 PM with a comment from Olivera.