Barberio Files Motion For Judge To Reconsider Election Challenge Decision

PARSIPPANY, NJ — In yet another attempt to reverse the outcome of the 2025 General Election in Parsippany, former mayor James Barberio has filed documents urging a judge to reconsider his decision not to challenge the mayoral election results.

The motion comes weeks after Barberio filed suit with the Superior Court in Morris County, in which he and his legal team mentioned several concerns over what was an incredibly narrow election.

The Morris County Clerk’s website shows challenger Pulkit Desai with an 80-vote lead ahead of the incumbent, with 50.05 percent of votes against Barberio’s 49.65 percent.

In December, a judge dismissed the former mayor’s challenge with prejudice, meaning he cannot file a challenge again. He can, and has, however, filed a motion for the judge to reconsider the initial request for trial.

Court documents filed in the case say that Barberio and his legal team’s claims of voter fraud were brought up “without any factual or evidentiary support.”

Specifically, several of the people named in Barberio’s challenge, who were accused of voting improperly, did not even vote at all in the 2025 General Election, the judge found. Additionally, the judge says the legal claims and allegations were filed "haphazardly,” and that the "evidence" is “without merit.”

As a result, the judge dismissed the challenge and rejected Barberio’s request for lawyer fee reimbursement while awarding funds to Desai.

Barberio’s newest filing says the judge’s decision stripped him of the opportunity to call on witnesses and present evidence that would be discovered over the course of a trial.

The motion calls for a plenary trial to address what Barberio’s lawyers believe to be a discrepancy of 27 votes in the Parsippany mayoral election.

A decision on whether the challenge will be reconsidered will be made on Jan. 30, according to NJ courts.