Voters in Tuesday’s primary election will be deciding nominees for the presidency, the Senate and the House, as well as local and county offices.
Democratic voters will see a change in their ballots for the first time in decades — a revamp that uses an “office-block” design instead of the controversial “party line,” or “county line.” Proponents of the change say it strips party leaders of their ability to handpick primary winners.
U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), who is being tried on federal corruption charges, is not on the primary ballot but is planning to file a nomination petition to run as an independent in the general election.
“I think really what he’s trying to do … is keep himself politically relevant for another few months. He doesn’t want to be a lame duck,” said Micah Rasmussen, director for the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics in an interview with NJ Spotlight News. “So I think all of his leverage at this point comes from being politically relevant for the next few months, which he wouldn’t be otherwise,” he said.
Rasmussen said he’s looking to see whether the strength of New Jersey’s political party organizations holds up against the new ballot design.
“I think what the reformers would tell us is this is an early glimpse at life without the line,” said Rasmussen.
