Beginning of the End for County Line Ballots

Kim et al Case Filing

Hanlon et al Memo

Temporary Injunction: 

Kim et al v Hanlon et al

County Clerks' Appeal Letter

Hudson & Burlington's Withdrawal

Plaintiff's Memo on Appeal 

(Ocean, Middlesex also appeal)

Judge Quraishi Denies Appeal

Judge Quraishi Denies Appeal

Judge Quraishi Denies Appeal

Judge Quraishi Denies Appeal

Third Circuit Appeal

(page 1, 15 counties)

Third Circuit Denies Appeal

Camden Democratic Committee's Appeal

Camden County Clerk Withdraws

Middlesex County Clerk Withdraws

Passaic Withdraws

Andy Kim's Tweet: 

All Clerks Withdrawn

(April 4, 2024)

Intervenor Defendant: Camden Democratic Committee

Republicans' Responses

Middlesex Democratic Committee Hires Neal Katyal

Middlesex Democratic Committee Amicus Brief

(Summary Only)

Responses to Katyal's Amicus Brief

Camden Republican Committee's Amicus Brief

(Summary Only)

GOP Candidates' Lawsuit

Camden Democratic Committee's Intervenor Argument

Third Circuit Decision Published on April 17

Third Circuit Intervenor Appeal Hearing

April 12, 2024

Plaintiffs' Counsel's Statement

Andy Kim's Statement on Third Circuit Decision

Steve Fulop's 

Tweet and Amicus Brief Excerpt

Tom Malinowski's Opinion Piece

Interview with Julia Sass Rubin, Yael Bromberg and Brett Pugach

Attorneys Discuss Future of County Line Cases

ACLU's Amicus Brief

Attorney General Matthew Platkin's Letter

Chen (Rutgers) & Stephanopoulos (Harvard)'s Amicus Brief

Conforti v Hanlon

Chronology of Endorsements for Murphy

Tweets of Andy Kim and Tammy Murphy

Math of County Line: 

Andy Kim versus Tammy Murphy

Letter from Somerset Chair

Sample County Line Ballots

Ballot Design in 1940

County Line v Bloc Ballot

Sample Bloc Ballots

Sample Ballot 2024 

(Monmouth)

Sample 2024 Ballots: Democratic

Sample 2024 Ballots: Republican

More 2024 Primary Ballots

Camden 2024 Primary Ballot

(Candidates are numbered)

How did Albio Sires get the county line for the 13th Congressional District in 2006? 

In 2006, 13-year incumbent Democrat Bob Menendez moved to the United States Senate to fill the seat vacated by Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine. Corzine chose Menendez because he played a significant role in Jon Corzine's campaign for governor of New Jersey. Menendez was a key supporter and campaigner for Corzine, leveraging his political influence and connections to help Corzine secure the governorship. This support was a crucial factor in Corzine's decision to appoint Menendez to his Senate seat after Corzine was elected governor Additionally, a Quinnipiac University poll showed that New Jersey voters approved Corzine's choice of Menendez by a 2-to-1 margin. Moreover, Menendez had a substantial campaign war chest of $4.1 million, which positioned him well for the upcoming election to secure a full Senate term. 

Sires then entered the race to succeed him. On June 6, 2006, he ran in two Democratic primary elections—a special primary for the last two months of Menendez’s seventh term and a regular primary for a full two-year term. 

In the special primary to fill the remaining two months, Sires won about 90% of the vote, defeating James Geron—this assured Sires of being the next congressman from this heavily Democratic, Latino-majority district. Sires beat Assemblyman and Perth Amboy Mayor Joseph Vas in a bitter primary with 68% of the vote, winning in Union, Hudson, and Essex Counties, while Vas won Middlesex County. No Republican even filed, assuring Sires of a full term. The 13th was so heavily Democratic that any Republican candidate would have faced nearly impossible odds.

Sires faced Republican John Guarini—a salesman and second cousin of former Congressman Frank J. Guarini—who was unopposed for the GOP nomination. Vas did not seek the unexpired term seat. After winning the election with 78% of the vote, Sires was sworn into the House on November 13, 2006, to fill the remainder of Menendez's term.

The 13th District granted Sires the line. He is listed twice to account for the unexpired term. (See Hoboken ballot from the 2006 primary.)

How did he get the line? Check out his donation history. He donated $40,750, of which $32,000 was to the NJ Democratic Party. Besides that year, before or after, the highest he has donated is $3,334 in 2003. (See Albio Sires’ Annual Donations.)

The noted change for the Democratic Party ballot from line to block is the result of Andy Kim’s case, in which he was granted temporary relief. The change granted was specifically for the Democratic Party in 2024 only. The actual cases, Conforti et al v Hanlon et al and Kim et al v Hanlon et al, are still pending.