NJ-12: Democratic candidate files as independent while running in the primary

One of the Democratic candidates running in next week’s 12th district congressional primary has filed to run as an independent in the general election, a likely violation of New Jersey’s Sore Loser law.

Matt Adams, a former two-term Middlesex Borough councilman and retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve JAG Corps, joined the race to succeed Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) four months ago but never broke out from the pack of twelve candidates; he raised almost $86,000 – his most recent report two weeks ago put his cash-on-hand at $19,821 — but did not qualify for a place on the New Jersey Globe/Rider University debate stage last month.

His filed petitions with the Division of Elections that included 287 signatures – 37 more than he needs to qualify – under the “Integrity, Accountability, Leadership” slogan.

The New Jersey Legislature enacted a sore loser law in 1998 to prevent defeated primary candidates from competing again in the general election. That year, Carl Mayer lost a Democratic primary in NJ-12 and then sought to run as the Green Party candidate in NJ-6. Courts have upheld the law and enforced it against candidates who tried to switch to an independent candidacy after participating in a primary campaign.



https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/nj-12-democratic-candidate-files-as-independent-while-running-in-the-primary/