GOP ends challenge against anti-abortion independent in NJ-9
Ex-presidential candidate Terrisa Bukovinac will remain on the ballot against Pou, Pino
By David Wildstein, June 10 2026 9:21 am
Republicans have dropped their challenge to the independent candidacy of an anti-abortion leader who challenged Joe Biden in the 2024 Democratic presidential primary in New Jersey.
Terrisa Bukovinac will remain on the ballot in November in New Jersey’s 9th district against Rep. Nellie Pou (D-North Haledon) and Republican Rosie Pino, a Clifton city councilwoman, under the slogan “Save Our Babies.”
Pino’s campaign manager, Kennith Gonzalez, had challenged the legitimacy of Bukovinac’s nominating petitions and was scheduled to appear before an administrative law judge this morning. Bukovinac, a resident of Ellendale, Tennessee, had obtained 459 signatures – 209 more than she needed to qualify; Gonzalez had challenged the authenticity of 229 of them and would have needed to prevail in over 90% of his objections.
“We just don’t see her as a serious enough candidat…