A judge has tossed American Solidarity Party presidential candidate Peter Sonski off the ballot in New Jersey after finding that he fell short of gathering the 800 petition signatures required under state law.
Administrative Law Judge Judith Lieberman rejected 198 signatures, leaving Sonski six short.
“The candidate does not have sufficient signatures to proceed,” she said.
The move appears to benefit Donald Trump, who could receive votes that might have gone to a more conservv
Tim Walsh of the Bergen County Young Republicans challenged Sonski’s petitions after a court hearing that lasted more than twelve hours over two days. Lieberman struck signatures that either didn’t match or voters could not be identified in the Statewide Voter Registration System.
“This is not to be interpreted in any way as motivated in any way by any ill will toward the American Solidarity Party or any of its members,” said Walsh. “I did this out of respect for our electoral process.”
That leaves Sonski, a pro-life, anti-gay marriage candidate who supports a Christian democracy, on the ballot in just Arkansas and Hawaii.
Secretary of State Tahesha Way will make the final decision. Sonski’s attorney, Wayne Paulter, can ask Way not to accept Lieberman’s findings and appeal Way’s decision in court.
Paulter said he accepted the “mathematics” of the decision, but said he wasn’t authorized to withdraw the petition on Sonski’s behalf.