Nine presidential candidates have filed enough signatures to appear on the New Jersey state ballot later this year, bringing the total number of potential options for New Jersey voters to eleven when factoring in the Republican and Democratic Party nominees.
According to the New Jersey Globe, eight candidates filed ahead of yesterday’s deadline to appear on the ballot, including Libertarian Party nominee Chase Oliver, Party for Socialism and Liberation nominee Claudia De la Cruz, Socialist Workers Party nominee Rachele Fruit, national Constitution Party nominee Randall Terry, American Solidarity Party nominee Peter Sonski, independent candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Shiva Ayyadurai, and Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein.
However, a closer look by Independent Political Report indicates that the Socialist Equality Party ticket of Joseph Kishore and Jerry White also submitted enough signatures—over double the number required at 1,638—to appear on the state ballot, according to an unofficial list updated by the New Jersey Division of Elections at 5:08 PM EST on Monday. A list of electors for the Kishore campaign is also reflected in a document updated earlier today.
These candidates join Republican Donald Trump and the eventual Democratic Party presidential nominee, who will be added automatically. Notably absent from the list of candidates who submitted petitions to the New Jersey Division of Elections is independent candidate Dr. Cornel West.
The Globe also gives specific attention to the question of Shiva Ayyadurai’s constitutional eligibility due to his status as a naturalized citizen. Whether or not Ayyadurai is eligible to appear on the ballot as a presidential candidate has already come up previously, although a federal judge dismissed a pro se lawsuit by Ayyadurai to get on state ballots earlier this year, citing that he sued too early and had no standing at the time.
However, at least one other state—Utah—has already agreed to place Ayyadurai on their state ballot. The Globe states that Ayyadurai’s electoral fate in New Jersey is dependent on the New Jersey Secretary of State.
With thanks to the Gadfly Politics Podcast for sharing news of the New Jersey Globe article.
Sitting Shiva for Ayurveda is going to be on the ballot? Hell, in a state that can elect somebody as mendacious as Menendez …