United States | Jersey unsure

New Jersey’s electoral process just got upended

Andy Kim is fighting against some high-level political arcana

Andy Kim speaks in Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Mr Kim goes to WashingtonPhotograph: Bryan Anselm/New York Times/Redux/Eyevine
|PLAINSBORO, NEW JERSEY

THE DAY after Bob Menendez, New Jersey’s senior senator, was indicted for corruption, Andy Kim, a congressman, announced he would take on his powerful fellow Democrat in the upcoming Senate race. But the bigger obstacle to his bid was not Mr Menendez, whose support among Democrats quickly disappeared. It was an archaic primary process called the county line. New Jersey is the only state in America which brackets endorsements made by county party chairs and gives endorsees prime real estate on the ballot.

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This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “Jersey unsure”

From the April 13th 2024 edition

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