Federal Judge Throws Out New Jersey Primary Ballot Design After Lawsuit by Rep. Andy Kim

The ballot design, known as the county line system, allows county party officials to more prominently display the names of favored candidates.

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 15: Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) speaks during a rally and news conference ahead of a House vote on health care and prescription drug legislation in the Rayburn Room at the U.S. Capitol May 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. The bicameral group of Democrats urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to bring the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act up for a vote in the Senate. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

A federal judge has ruled that New Jersey’s unique ballot design that gives party-backed candidates an advantage will be scrapped in the June Senate primary.

The preliminary injunction—granted by U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi, who was appointed by President Joe Biden— is a win for Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), the favorite to win the Democrat nomination and general election in the U.S. Senate race in the Garden State.