Corrupt County Lines
New Jersey politics exploded over the weekend.
Democrats, Republicans, and Independents unified their protest against the corrupt County Lines.
Before each year’s Primary election, Democrat and Republican Establishment members choose who they want to be included under the “County Line”. However, once the Primary election occurs, the New Jersey voters choose to “vote down the Line” because they trust their leaders to endorse qualified and authentic candidates. This year was beginning to look no different.
“Vote down the Line, Republican!”
&
“Vote Blue, no matter who!”
Every year, the New Jersey voters lose more and more of that trust that they imbue within their political leaders. Now, suddenly, this year is beginning to look completely different. This year is beginning to look like a turning point in New Jersey’s political and electoral history. These corrupt County Lines are being challenged in court.
Congressman Andy Kim (NJ03) is the lead Democrat in New Jersey’s U.S. Senate Primary election. He is also the person who is suing to remove the corrupt County Lines. Successfully, he has usurped the Grassroots movement on the Left as an anti-County Line advocate. Once asked about his lack of support against the corrupt County Lines in the past, he could not answer (1).
With that being said, the U.S. District Court Judge Zahid Quraishi has granted a preliminary injunction in Andy Kim’s lawsuit. This could be the turning point that New Jersey needed. This could lead to the end of the corrupt County Lines.
Not so fast! …
Morris County Republican Vice Chairman, Peter King sent a letter to Judge Zahid Quraishi asking to “confirm that the current injunction is limited to the 2024 Democratic Primary, as defined in the verified complaint and the court’s opinion.” (2)
Also, the Republican Monmouth County Clerk Christine Halon is leading the appeal against the preliminary injunction (3).
Originally, this appeal had seventeen additional county clerks, but that number has already dropped to fifteen (4).
The Republicans are joining the Democrats in trying to preserve their corrupt County Lines, and their Uni-Party.
Although, there are some America First Republicans in New Jersey who want to see the corrupt County Lines removed. Conservatives like Mike Crispi have recently released statements on these shifting developments (5).
"Quraishi said that the 'public interest clearly favors the protection of constitutional rights,'" said Crispi. "Republicans deserve to have their constitutional rights protected just as much as Democrats."
Gregg Mele is another America First Republican in New Jersey who has been outspoken with challenging the corrupt County Lines. Formally, as a U.S. Senate candidate, Gregg was the only Republican to support “abolishing the Line” (6).
“If you want to know where corruption lies in NJ politics, look at the list of county organizations who dare to appeal the ruling abolishing the corrupt line system. They should feel embarrassed at themselves for actually putting in writing that they are against basic fairness.” - Gregg Mele
“As the ONLY Republican who made a public statement, via press release, a few months ago against the county line, and one of very few who have been endorsed as an anti-corruption candidate, I am very happy to see fairness win over money in politics. There are more battles to come.” - Gregg Mele
Gregg Mele is now running for U.S. House of Representatives in Congressional District 6.
Sources:
https://newjerseyglobe.com/judiciary/does-quraishi-order-affect-republicans-morris-gop-wants-to-know/
4
5. https://twitter.com/MichaelDByrneNJ/status/1774269124182409721
6. https://twitter.com/fairballotnj/status/1774557348578615536
