Good news out of Kansas. Secretary of State Kris Kobach lost his bid to keep Democrat Chad Taylor on the ballot after he withdrew last week to save the pathetic Sen. Pat Roberts from almost certain defeat. The Supreme Court of Kansas would not be a party to his partisan abuse of power.Buh-bye Pat Roberts.
The Wichita Eagle reports Supreme Court: Democrat Chad Taylor’s name can be taken off ballot for U.S. Senate:
Democrat Chad Taylor is off the ballot for the U.S. Senate in Kansas.
The Kansas Supreme Court ruled (.pdf) late Thursday afternoon that Taylor’s letter to the Secretary of State’s Office met the requirements for him to withdraw.
Secretary of State Kris Kobach had said Taylor had failed to declare that he was incapable of serving as required by Kansas statute and had ruled that his name would remain on the ballot.
Taylor took the unprecedented step of suing to have his name removed, filing an emergency petition with the Kansas Supreme Court. The court heard the case Tuesday and several justices voiced skepticism of Kobach’s application of the law.
In response to the ruling, Kobach said a separate statute protects the “rights of Kansas Democrats” to have a replacement candidate. He said he would move the mailing date for absentee ballots to Sept. 27 and that the chair of the Democratic Party has been informed she has eight days to select a replacement candidate.
Not going to happen.
The Roberts campaign issued a statement decrying the ruling. “Today, the Kansas Supreme Court deliberately, and for political purposes, disenfranchised over 65,000 voters,” it said.
That would be Democrats who voted for Chad Taylor in the Democratic primary. Pat Roberts’ concern trolling for Democrats is disingenuous. He has never been concerned about his Democratic constituents in all his years in office. Democrats are more than happy to vote for Independent Greg Orman to rid themselves of Pat Roberts.
Joan Wagnon, the Democratic Party chair, applauded the decision “to follow the law and stop Kris Kobach from undermining Kansas democracy.”
Now if the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals would just slap down Kris Kobach in his proof-of-citizenship voter registration appeal to stop him from undermining American democracy.
Actually, it might happen.
I contacted the Kansas Democratic Party and they said they are considering nominating Orman as their “replacement candidate”.
I reckon that would infuriate the Republicans. It would make Kobach regret offering the 8-day extension.
In other states, it is routine for one person to get the nomination from multiple parties. In Kansas, it would be quite exceptional. I am not a lawyer, but AFAICT it would be legal. Exceptional, but legal.
Hint: Take a look at the statute: K.S.A. 25-306.
That would be incredibly stupid. It would allow Republicans to tag Orman as the Democratic nominee, rather than the Independent with cross-over appeal. Call them back and tell them to learn how to play this game.
I watched Pat Roberts during the debate for cloture on the Citizen’s United Amendment that never got a vote. He feigned anger, that free speech might be limited. Can’t wait for his lockstep, bad acting shtick to be up. Free speech does not equal money, Pat.