In a move signaling a potential shift in the ongoing battle over New Jersey’s controversial county line system, Middlesex Democratic Chairman Kevin McCabe is withdrawing from the Conforti lawsuit, a legal challenge seeking to abolish county organization lines on primary ballots.
The decision suggests that Middlesex Democrats are ready to turn the page on the contentious debate and adapt to a future where preferential ballot positions no longer exist. This also coincides with the Middlesex organization’s progress towards settling a separate lawsuit filed earlier this year by Rep. Andy Kim.
In March, a significant victory was secured by Kim and other plaintiffs when U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi struck down the county line in this year’s primary elections. The judge found that the line, which groups party-endorsed candidates together, caused irreparable harm to the campaigns of non-endorsed candidates.
However, the broader Conforti lawsuit, initiated in 2021, remains active. If not resolved by next year, some candidates on both sides of the issue are prepared to seek another injunction from Judge Quraishi for the 2025 elections.
While Quraishi’s earlier ruling strongly hints at the unconstitutionality of the county line system, its future remains uncertain. Some county organizations, including Middlesex, have appealed the decision, but the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has upheld Quraishi’s ruling.
McCabe’s exit from the Conforti case could be interpreted as a pragmatic recognition of the evolving legal landscape and a willingness to focus on navigating the new reality of New Jersey politics without relying on the traditional county line system.
