A New Jersey congressional candidate donning a “Let’s Go Brand*n — FJB” campaign slogan announced he is ending his bid in the Republican primary after failing to secure enough valid signatures.
A judge found that nine of Robert Shapiro’s 203 signatures were invalid, taking him below the 200 signature threshold needed to attain a place on the ballot, the New Jersey Globe reported.
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“If I’m going to go under 200, I don’t want to waste anyone’s time,” he said, according to the outlet. “I have to withdraw my petitions.”
Of the nine invalid signatures, five came from residents from different districts and four from registered Democrats, Administrative Law Judge Elia Pelios determined, leaving Shapiro six signatures short of the requirement. Shapiro was vying to challenge incumbent Rep. Chris Smith, who has served in Congress since 1981.
Although Shapiro has sought political office nearly a dozen times, he has never managed to win. He made a name for himself this election cycle for his gambit to appear on the ballot with a “Let’s Go Brand*n — FJB” slogan. The political motto is a double-whammy, deploying two different messages that are both codes for “F*** Joe Biden.”
“Let’s Go Brandon” has been used as a rallying cry by critics of President Joe Biden after a NASCAR race last October. An NBC reporter mistook the crowd’s chanting of the expletive phrase against Biden as “Let’s Go Brandon,” and “FBJ” is the abbreviation of the expletive phrase itself.
Shapiro had battled election officials to use the slogan on the ballot. Recently, the New Jersey Division of Elections allowed him to use the “Let’s Go Brand*n” phrase if he removed the vulgar “FJB.”
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This most recent run was Shapiro’s 11th attempt at public office, the New Jersey Globe reported. Smith is currently seeking his 22nd term in office. The primary is slated to take place in June.
