With just under four months until the gubernatorial primary and a crowded field of contenders, any advantage could make a difference in swaying voters for a win.

For decades.

The controversial county line provided a significant edge for candidates.

But following Andy Kim's historic lawsuit that led to the downfall of the ballot line design and last year's Senate race, candidates are now pushing back against political bosses and opting out of their county conventions.

Senior political correspondent David Cruz has more.

In the post party line world of New Jersey politics, the establishment ain't what it used to be.

Proof of that is in the number of gubernatorial candidates who are skipping county nominating conventions.

Democrat Ras Baraka says in many cases, the outcomes of these conventions are preordained.

Representing the interests of the party chairs and not the rank and file.

A lot of these people depend on these chairs.

In the past, chairs made decisions about whether they got the line, whether they will continue to support them in the future.

These folks are tied to that.

And ultimately, they the kind of pressure that puts on them in some instances makes them makes to make decisions that they don't normally want to make.

And those people, they don't really endorse it, doing it, to maintain a well-being and keep their position.

Baraka says he'll participate in contests where candidates are allowed access to committee members, information and opportunities to address delegates.

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop has also said he won't participate, although the other candidates have not said if they would skip the process.

On the Republican side, Senator John Bramnick is the latest candidate to say he'll skip the conventions, too.

I signed up for all of them, and then people start pulling out so you know, their guts out.

Speedy gets out.

So now it's a skewed result.

And as a result of federal court decisions, you know, things are changing in terms of not having a line.

So, you know, if everyone's not going to participate, then it's really not going to reflect the will of the voters, I don't think.

The candidates all acknowledge that the county organizations still have considerable clout, boots on the ground, money, patronage, etc.

but nowadays they're also saddled with the pejorative of the moment establishment.

On the Republican side generally is looking like the establishment candidate he is.

And by by leaving the establishment lame exclusively for him.

And and by dividing up the anti-establishment lane among three candidates.

The danger for the disaffected candidates, a danger for the anti-establishment candidates, is that they're leaving all the organizational support unchallenged for Jack.

Mikie Sherrill, likewise, has been racking up county chairs, including Hudson and Essex, and is expected to win tonight's Mercer County convention.

Since party leaders have already endorsed her.

But Baraka surprised many observers by forcing a second ballot at the recent Hunterdon Convention, and he is lurking as a viable second choice for a lot of party members in Mercer, where he has support, including that of popular Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman.

I think that a victory for the Baraka campaign right now isn't only winning a convention, it's it's proving that he's a formidable, number two candy at the moment, and that he could really make this into a two candidate race between Congressman Mikie Sherrill and himself.

So while the establishment lane may still be the best paved, it's less and less being seen as the only way to get to your destination.

I'm David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News.