For the second time this year in New Jersey, a Democratic candidate won a primary election – and likely to come, a full term in Congress – with less than 30% of the vote.
Surgeon Adam Hamawy, a combat veteran, defeated 11 candidates in the 12th District. While he won about 28% of the ballot, close to two-thirds of voters chose a different candidate. The district, represented by Bonnie Watson Coleman, is deeply Democratic making Hamawy heavily favored in the November election.
Hamawy’s primary victory illustrates New Jersey’s evolving politics after the party-line ballot system was snuffed two years ago, a step hailed by democracy activists. At the same time, some advocates say it also is a sign for New Jersey to disrupt the system further.
“While it is wonderful that so many people are choosing to run, it is certainly not ideal to have a minority of the voting population selecting who will represent the entire district,” said Julia Sass Rubin, a Rutgers University professor who has done extensive research on the county line’s outsize influence…
Ranked choice is used to some degree in 13 states, and most prominently in New York City.
“The most obvious solution is to adopt ranked choice voting, which also would diminish the power of outside money to propel a single candidate to victory,” said Sass Rubin, the Rutgers professor. “At the very least, the legislature could adopt ranked choice voting for congressional races, which have been attracting the largest numbers of candidates.”