Gubernatorial Candidate Arrested for Child Support
A Republican candidate for New Jersey governor was arrested and jailed for more than 12 hours last week due to unpaid child support, just days before Tuesday’s primary election. Justin Barbera, a Burlington County contractor, spent time at Salem County Correctional Facility before being released on a court order.
The incident has added controversy to an already challenging campaign for Barbera, who remains on the ballot for tomorrow’s gubernatorial primary despite the arrest. Officials at Salem County jail confirmed that Barbera was booked at around 2:25 AM on June 3 and released at about 3:10 PM that day, according to New Jersey Globe.
Image Source: NJBreakingNews.com
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Campaign Background and Ballot Access
Barbera managed to secure the required 2,500 signatures to appear on the June 10 statewide primary ballot, despite running a largely unfunded campaign. The contractor from Burlington County has not raised significant money or secured major endorsements from party leaders. He also did not qualify for the two official Republican gubernatorial debates held during the campaign season.
This gubernatorial bid represents Barbera’s second attempt at elected office. In November 2024, he ran as a conservative third-party candidate in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District, finishing with just 0.3% of the vote in the race to succeed now-Senator Andy Kim. Current Representative Herb Conaway Jr. ultimately won that seat by approximately nine percentage points over his Republican opponent.
Debate Controversy and Campaign Struggles
The child support arrest follows other campaign difficulties for Barbera. At a New Jersey Globe debate event in Newark on May 20, Barbera was escorted from the building after demanding to be included in post-debate press activities. One witness reported that he threatened to storm the stage when denied participation in media sessions reserved for qualified candidates.
Barbera’s campaign has struggled to gain traction in a Republican primary field that includes better-funded and more established candidates. His inability to meet debate qualification requirements has limited his visibility among voters ahead of tomorrow’s primary election. The candidate has not returned multiple telephone calls or responded to text messages from reporters seeking comment about the arrest.
Previous Legal Issues and Criminal History
The recent child support arrest is not Barbera’s first encounter with the legal system. According to CBS Philadelphia, Barbera has faced charges of theft and criminal mischief in the past. These previous legal issues add to questions about his viability as a gubernatorial candidate in New Jersey’s competitive Republican primary.
Family court records in New Jersey are not publicly available, making it difficult to determine specific details about the child support case that led to his arrest. The incident occurred just one week before voters head to the polls, potentially impacting his already limited chances in the five-way Republican primary race.
Image Source: NJBreakingNews.com
Primary Election Stakes and Timing
The arrest comes at a critical time for New Jersey Republicans, who are hoping to regain the governor’s mansion after eight years of Democratic control under Phil Murphy. The Garden State is one of only two states holding gubernatorial elections in 2025, along with Virginia. New Jersey voters will head to the polls Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the primary election, according to News 12 New Jersey.
Barbera faces four other Republican candidates in the primary: state Senator Jon Bramnick, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, former radio host Bill Spadea, and former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac. The winner will face the Democratic nominee in November’s general election to succeed the term-limited Murphy. Despite the arrest, Barbera’s name will remain on the ballot as there is no mechanism for removal this close to the election.
Impact on Republican Primary Race
Political observers suggest the arrest is unlikely to significantly impact the overall Republican primary outcome, given Barbera’s status as a long-shot candidate with minimal campaign infrastructure. However, the incident highlights ongoing challenges within the New Jersey Republican Party as candidates compete for the nomination to challenge the Democratic winner in November.
The arrest also raises questions about candidate vetting processes and the ease with which individuals with legal issues can access the ballot through petition drives. While Barbera secured the required signatures, his campaign’s struggles with fundraising, debate qualification, and now legal issues demonstrate the challenges facing outsider candidates in statewide races.
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