Democratic activist Lynda Vescio has filed an election challenge to the petitions filed by Democrats Brianna Westbrook and Gene Scharer. Two of Three Democrats in Arizona Special Election Face Lawsuit:
Lawsuits were filed against two Democrats running in Arizona’s 8th District’s special election on Thursday challenging the number of signatures on their petitions to get on the ballot.
Brianna Westbrook and Gene Scharer are both running in the special election to replace Rep. Trent Franks, who resigned last month after reports he offered a staffer money to carry his child.
The lawsuits said the two did not have enough petition signatures to be on the ballot. [Westbrook submitted 800 signatures, and Scharer submitted 666 signatures.]
But some of the ballots for the primary, which will be held on February 27, have already been mailed to military and overseas voters, ABC15 reported. The general election is scheduled for April 24.
Lynda Vescio did not file an election challenge to the petitions of Dr. Hiral Tipirneni, the third Democrat in the special eelction primary, who submitted 2,048 signatures, more than enough to qualify.
Republicans in the race might also face complications as only two of the 12 candidates mentioned the end date of the term in their petitions, which is required by state law.
“You have a lawyer, perhaps more than one, working in the Secretary of State office who are specialists in election law, and they failed to change their form to make sure each candidate had the appropriate language,” said candidate Kevin Cavanaugh.
But it is unlikely many Republicans will face consequences as the deadline to file challenges against the candidates was 5 p.m. Thursday.
According to Tim Steller at the Arizona Daily Star, GOP candidate “Kevin Cavanaugh, a one-time candidate for the GOP nomination in Congressional District 1, had instead jumped into the race in Congressional District 8. He had, but now he’s dropped out of both races.”
Just because the good doctor has MORE than enough signatures doesn’t mean they ARE valid or that the people are even alive. If there is to be an audit, AUDIT everyone. This sounds like a FAKE GOP type attack, not one a good dem would rally around or be involved with!