New Jersey
Appeals court promises quick ruling on appeal of order barring county-line ballots • New Jersey Monitor
A federal appeals court will swiftly decide whether to allow the use of county-line ballots in June’s Democratic primary after hearing oral arguments Friday in Rep. Andy Kim’s case against the county line, one of the three judges on the panel said.
During the nearly two-hour hearing, an attorney for the Camden County Democratic Committee alleged the county line should be allowed to continue because it furthers the associational rights of political organizations. County-line ballots allow candidates backed by party organizations to be grouped or bracketed together on primary ballots.
“Political parties have the right, whatever the affiliation of the political party, whatever the faction of the political party, have the right to associate with and not associate with endorsed and not-endorsed candidates,” Bill Tambussi, the attorney, told the court.
Tambussi argued that existing state case law had confirmed the line’s legality and said that barring candidates from bracketing is an unconstitutional infringement of counties’ associational rights.
Kim (D-03) and his co-plaintiffs, congressional candidates Sara Schoengood and Carolyn Rush, have argued New Jersey’s county-line ballot design violates constitutional protections on free association and the U.S. Constitution’s elections clause. They argue the county line requires candidates to associate with candidates they may not want to in order to avoid inferior ballot placement and improperly influences election outcomes by giving party-backed candidates better ballot placement.
A lower-court judge sided with Kim two weeks ago and ordered county clerks not to use county-line ballots in June’s Democratic primaries. The judge said clerks must use office-block ballots, which instead group candidates based on the office they’re seeking.
Most of the clerks initially appealed the order but have since dropped out of the appeal and are moving forward with printing office-block ballots for June. The Camden committee is the only organization still challenging the lower-court order.
Judges on Friday appeared skeptical of Camden Democrats’ associational arguments, noting 49 other states and two of New Jersey’s own counties use a ballot design that Tambussi claims is unconstitutional.
“If not having bracketing is unconstitutional, then 49 out of 50 states are doing something severely wrong,” said Judge Arianna Freeman.
Judges also questioned Tambussi’s arguments on associational rights, noting Kim’s suit does not seek to bar the use of slogans that could tie endorsed candidates to a party.
“They’re saying, sloganeer all you want,” said Judge Kent Jordan.
Jordan added that the question here is, “Are you constitutionally entitled to a ballot form that will, according to the facts found by the district court, clearly put a thumb on the scale.”
Sean Marotta, an attorney for the Middlesex County Democratic Organization, which joined the case as a friend of the court, argued that candidates like Rush and Schoengood who do not win the endorsement of local party leaders should be treated like independent candidates in general elections. He cited a state law that bars parties that did not earn 10% of the vote share in the most recent general election with Assembly seats on the ballot from winning top ballot spots (in New Jersey, only Republican and Democratic parties meet that bar).
“It’s random whether it’s Republicans or Democrats who get the first column,” Marotta said. “Then all of the independent petition candidates are put in the third column stacked on top of each other, and this court upheld that.”
Brett Pugach, an attorney for Kim and his co-plaintiffs, argued in response that for general elections, there could be a state interest in maintaining a two-party system. Such an interest does not exist in primaries, when only Republicans and Democrats are on the ballot, he said.
Camden Democrats have argued that the advantage granted by the county line — the lower court’s fact-finding placed it at roughly 11 points — is not a severe enough burden to trigger deep scrutiny of the state’s interest in party lines. Such a finding would trigger a less stringent standard of review.
Pugach argued the contrary, citing the lower court’s findings and adding that the harms posed by county-line ballots still outweigh the state’s interest in maintaining them. He noted that county clerks and Camden Democrats did not offer evidence demonstrating such a state interest.
“In other words, even if the court didn’t apply a severe burden, it’s still a sliding-scale analysis, and as I said before, there’s no evidence in the record as to the state interest,” Pugach said.
Both sides discussed a letter Attorney General Matt Platkin sent the lower-court judge that calls the county-line ballot design unconstitutional and says Platkin would not defend it in court.
Judges asked attorneys Friday whether they should consider the letter. Kim’s lawyers argued in favor, saying the letter is part of the record and Platkin’s refusal to defend the statute is itself notable to the court. Tambussi argued it should be discounted because Platkin did not move to join the case.
“He had the opportunity to step into the case because the secretary of state was a party to the case. He had the opportunity to do that, and he did not,” Tambussi said.
It’s not clear when the appeals panel will issue its ruling, though the promise of promptness and looming election deadlines should ensure a quick resolution.
“Today, we reaffirmed that the evidence presented in this case establishes an unfair burden on voters and candidates that hinders the democratic process. The Court promised a prompt decision, which we look forward to reading,” Pugach said in a statement.
Clerks are due to begin sending out mail-in ballots by April 20, though courts can and have delayed such deadlines in the past. Earlier election deadlines on ballot printing are paused in some counties while state courts hear a separate ballot case over the Republican primary.
Because Kim’s lawsuit was launched only by Democratic candidates, the order barring county-line ballots in June applies only to that party’s primaries.
Republican candidates have sued in state court to force the use of office-block ballots in their primaries, and the Burlington County Republican Committee has sued the county’s clerk, alleging she violated state law when designing an office-block ballot for June GOP races.
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Police have located all three boys who vanished from a New Jersey train station on Friday in Stamford, Connecticut.
Montville Township Police Department Chief Andrew Caggiano told Fox News Digital that Brayden Morrissey, 14, Dominic Diliberto, 14, and William Connolly, 17, initially left an undisclosed location in Montville Township, New Jersey, on Thursday night.
After an extensive initial search using K-9s and drones, authorities shifted to a missing persons investigation when they realized the boys had left the area.
The trio was seen at the Denville Train Station at about 5:30 p.m. Friday, before later being spotted by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) at a train station in Stamford on Saturday afternoon.
When MTA officers made contact in Stamford, they took Connolly into protective custody, but the two 14-year-olds fled.
Caggiano told Fox News Digital just after 8 p.m. Saturday those two boys were located in Stamford.
Caggiano noted the boys appeared to have left on their own accord.
It is unclear when they will be reunited with their parents.
Choosing New Jersey’s 10 best beaches was no day at the shore.
USA Today’s annual 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards asked beach lovers to vote on the Garden State’s top stretch of sand as part of a nationwide competition featuring coastal destinations in eight states and territories. Twenty Jersey Shore beaches made the final ballot — but only one could claim the crown.
Wildwood rode a tidal wave of votes to take the No. 1 spot, thanks to beaches stretching up to 500 yards wide that offer plenty of room for volleyball, surfing, boogie boarding and every other kind of seaside fun.
A unique beach taxi ferries visitors from the boardwalk closer to the water with their chairs and umbrellas in tow. When it’s time to leave the sand, the action shifts back to the boardwalk, where rides, games and endless food options keep the fun going.
The runner-up is Atlantic City, where the world-famous boardwalk, towering Ferris wheel, amusement rides and glittering casino skyline continue to make waves with visitors from near and far.
Surfing into third place is Sea Isle City — offering wide, soft beaches that invite visitors to stretch out under the sun before casting a line off the fishing pier or cooling off with a swim.
Cape May took the No. 4 spot with its family-friendly beaches, Victorian homes with tons of historic charm, a famous lighthouse and a bustling promenade.
At No. 5, Brigantine Beach proves nature lovers don’t have to drift far to find paradise, with scenic dunes, abundant wildlife and even the chance to drive on the sand in designated areas — with a permit.
Ocean City rolls in at No. 6, thanks to its legendary boardwalk packed with rides, games and family-friendly fun.
Catching the next wave at No. 7 is Long Beach Island, which boosts beautiful beaches, charming seaside communities and endless recreational activities.
Sliding into No. 8 is Avalon, an upscale beach town known for its soft sand, sparkling water and relaxed vibe that’s tailor-made for family vacations.
Just ahead at No. 9, Avon-by-the-Sea charms beachgoers with its tree-lined streets, Victorian homes and peaceful stretch of shoreline.
Making a splash at No. 10 is Asbury Park, where the vibrant boardwalk, live music and energetic atmosphere keep visitors coming back for an encore.
“New Jersey offers beachgoers 130 miles of coastline dotted with beaches, barrier islands, lighthouses, and scenic views. Hundreds of thousands of visitors come to the white sand beaches of the Jersey Shore each year, and it’s easy to see why,” USA Today wrote.
Twenty beaches made the final cut — but only one could take the crown.
TRENTON, N.J. — More than 681,000 eligible children across New Jersey will begin receiving Summer EBT benefits in the coming days as part of a permanent federal program designed to help low-income families purchase food while school is out of session.
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Human Services and the New Jersey Innovation Authority, announced the distribution of the benefits with support from the New Jersey Department of Education and the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate.
Each eligible child will receive a one-time $120 Summer EBT benefit that can be used to purchase nutritious food at grocery stores, farmers markets and other authorized retailers during the summer months.
State officials expect more than $94 million in federal food assistance to be distributed through the program this summer, benefiting eligible children across 734 participating school food authorities.
“Just because the school season ends it does not mean we stop taking steps to feed students,” said Ed Wengryn, NJ Secretary of Agriculture. “Summer EBT cards provide needed financial support for families to expand food purchasing power while schools are in recess.”
Students are eligible through participating school districts if they qualify for free or reduced-price school meals or attend schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision. School-aged children ages 6 to 16 who are enrolled in SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, income-eligible Medicaid or foster care also qualify regardless of where they attend school.
The Department of Human Services’ Division of Family Development has begun issuing new Summer EBT cards for 2026. Each eligible child will receive a separate card that can be activated and used for food purchases.
Recipients have 122 days, or approximately four months, to use the benefits before any remaining balance expires.
“As families face uncertainty about food assistance programs, Summer EBT helps ensure children continue to have access to nutritious food when school is out,” said Department of Human Services Commissioner Stephen Cha. “This support helps families supplement their food budgets and keep healthy meals on the table during the summer break.”
State officials said data from several enrollment programs was used to identify eligible children and streamline benefit distribution.
“Perhaps no single issue is more urgent than making sure New Jersey children have access to nutritious food,” said New Jersey State Chief Innovation Officer Dave Cole. “With NJDA, we combed through enrollment information of several state programs to determine eligibility, reduced deduplication, accurately identified thousands of eligible students, and helped ensure program integrity. Thank you, again, to the Department of Agriculture and our other State partners for working to provide this assistance to New Jersey families.”
Education Commissioner Dr. Lily Laux said the program helps bridge the nutritional gap when school meal programs are unavailable.
“The Summer EBT program continues to make a meaningful difference for children across New Jersey by ensuring they have access to nutritious food when school is out,” said Dr. Lily Laux, Commissioner of Education. “School meals can be a lifeline for many students during the school year, and Summer EBT helps bridge that gap during the summer months. This support helps students stay healthy and ready to learn when they return to school in the fall.”
Mark Dinglasan, executive director of the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate, said the program helps families manage rising grocery costs while supporting local businesses and farmers.
“As working families are navigating higher grocery bills and more, Summer EBT is a way for New Jersey to assist our students and families who rely on the nourishment and stability that school meals provide during the school year. For these families, the summer break upends their carefully managed household budgets and can create greater challenges for the steady access of food during the months when schools are closed,” said Mark Dinglasan, Executive Director of the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate. “Summer EBT is a powerful way to mitigate such challenges and has a positive ripple effect across our communities. Summer EBT supports the dignity and agency of families to shop for the nourishing foods their children need and want, in ways that make sense to them, including this year’s new eligibility to place online food orders for pickup or delivery from any retailer that accepts SNAP. Those purchases mean sales for local retailers and for our farmers who sell their harvests and products through farm stands, farmers’ markets and more. Plus, Summer EBT can supplement services families may receive from food pantries and other community-based organizations, ensuring a more sustainable way of supporting families during the summer. New Jersey is proud to be among the states that have decided to participate in Summer EBT since the start of this federal program, and I appreciate and congratulate all of the state agencies who continue to work collaboratively with each other and with communities to serve our children and families on such a large scale.”
Families can learn more about eligibility and the program by visiting www.nj.gov/summerebt/ or by contacting their local school district.
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