The Weedman is officially off the ballot, ending his independent bid for governor of New Jersey.
Edward “NJ Weedman” Forchion appeared in court for about 90 minutes on Tuesday after the New Jersey Democratic State Committee challenged the validity of his nominating petitions before pulling the plug on his own candidacy.
“Forchion announced on the record that he was withdrawing his petition and candidacy for Governor and left the hearing by exiting Zoom on his computer,” Administrative Law Judge Jeffrey Rabin wrote in his decision. “I accepted his withdrawal and ended the hearing.”
Rabin said he sent a withdrawal form to Forchion, but he never responded.
“As the examination of petition signatures had not yet begun and no count had yet taken place, there were no factual findings to be made and no legal analyses to be conducted, Rabin said.
Secretary of State Tahesha Way today removed Forchion from the ballot.