Storms start to move out of Minnesota, continue for western Wisconsin

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

A Republican voter and a candidate for president are challenging the lack of options on the party’s March primary ballot in Minnesota.

A petition filed late last week asks the Minnesota Supreme Court to order the inclusion of Republican candidates beyond President Trump.

 and James Bernard Martin Jr., a Minnesota voter supporting De La Fuente, brought the case. They said it was wrong and potentially unconstitutional to omit other candidates.

“The purpose of a major political party primary election is, in essence, to give voters a choice among competitor candidates within the party,” their petition to the court said. “Without identified competitors, there is no reason for a primary election.”

Their attorney, Erick Kaardal, said the primary differs from the party-driven caucus process used in the past because of who is footing the bill for the election.

“This is nationally embarrassing that we have a taxpayer funded presidential primary with just one candidate on the ballot,” Kaardal said Monday. “It’s absurd — legally absurd, culturally absurd. It makes the state look really stupid.”

The petition names Secretary of State Steve Simon as the defendant. His office declined comment on the case.

State law gives the parties the power to designate who is on the March 3rd ballot. Republican leaders submitted 

Democrats are due to release their ballot slate Tuesday.

Both parties had a Dec. 31 deadline in law to do so.

Kaardal has asked for expedited consideration by the high court because ballot printing will begin in a matter of weeks. Voters can access absentee ballots starting on Jan. 17.

Trump gets sole spot on Minnesota’s GOP primary ballot

Republicans will permit write-in votes on 2020 primary ballot

Brian Bakst

Author

A presidential candidate and a Minnesota voter argue it is unconstitutional to limit the named primary ballot choices to one candidate — in this case, President Trump. Republican officials have said write-ins will be permitted.

A pile of stickers on a table in front of voting booths. 

GOP’s Trump-only primary ballot in Minnesota challenged in court

Go Deeper.

Like this?