A Nevada District Court judge has sided with the state Republican party in their lawsuit over ballot rules in the special election in Nevada's 2nd District, ruling that parties should be allowed to nominate their own candidates, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
The decision overturned Democratic Secretary of State Ross Miller's determination earlier this month that all qualifying candidates would run on the same ballot. The special election is scheduled for September 13.
The decision overturned Democratic Secretary of State Ross Miller's determination earlier this month that all qualifying candidates would run on the same ballot. The special election is scheduled for September 13.
"The secretary of state is picking and choosing" the portions of the law that back up his decision, Judge Todd Russell wrote in the ruling. "That doesn't make sense to the court."
In addition, Russell gave parties until June 30 to choose their nominees. Under Miller's ruling, party filing was to open Monday, May 23 and close Wednesday May 25.
The state Democratic party could still appeal to the state Supreme Court to reverse the ruling.
The decision is a victory for the GOP, who had worried the looming free-for-all to fill the vacant seat could have split the Republican field and allowed for a Democrat to take the seat. The vacancy came about when Republican congressman Dean Heller was appointed to the Senate earlier this month after former GOP Sen. John Ensign resigned.
"We are pleased with the court's ruling today and believe that the true winners are the constituents of Nevada's 2nd Congressional District," said Nevada Republican Party executive director Cory Adair. "Our position is and has always been consistent with election law and tradition in Nevada; today's ruling reaffirmed our position."
But national Republicans caution they still see the race as highly competitive, even if they're allowed to pick their own nominee. While the seat leans Republican, John McCain won the district in 2008 by only 89 votes over Barack Obama. One of their chief worries in the race still is Sharron Angle. The 2010 Senate nominee had decried a party process to pick nominees -because she faces next-to-no chance of securing the backing of the state party. But if she, or another candidate who doesn't get the nomination runs as an independent, a three-way split would hurt GOP chances of holding the seat. The likely frontrunner for the GOP nod is now state party Chairman Mark Amodei, whose path to victory and the nomination becomes clearer if the ruling stands. State Sen. Greg Brower is also in the race. Former U.S.S. Cole Commander Kirk Lippold is also running, and had spoken out against the party nomination process. Democrats also had multiple candidates running, but party leaders view state Treasurer Kate Marshall as their strongest candidate. Former state party chairman Jill Derby, who indicated this week she wouldn't step aside in favor of Marshall, is also running, as is former state education regent Nancy Price. Both Derby and Price have lost to Heller before.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/05/gop-fortunes-brighten-in-nevada-house-race-19
In addition, Russell gave parties until June 30 to choose their nominees. Under Miller's ruling, party filing was to open Monday, May 23 and close Wednesday May 25.
The state Democratic party could still appeal to the state Supreme Court to reverse the ruling.
The decision is a victory for the GOP, who had worried the looming free-for-all to fill the vacant seat could have split the Republican field and allowed for a Democrat to take the seat. The vacancy came about when Republican congressman Dean Heller was appointed to the Senate earlier this month after former GOP Sen. John Ensign resigned.
"We are pleased with the court's ruling today and believe that the true winners are the constituents of Nevada's 2nd Congressional District," said Nevada Republican Party executive director Cory Adair. "Our position is and has always been consistent with election law and tradition in Nevada; today's ruling reaffirmed our position."
But national Republicans caution they still see the race as highly competitive, even if they're allowed to pick their own nominee. While the seat leans Republican, John McCain won the district in 2008 by only 89 votes over Barack Obama. One of their chief worries in the race still is Sharron Angle. The 2010 Senate nominee had decried a party process to pick nominees -because she faces next-to-no chance of securing the backing of the state party. But if she, or another candidate who doesn't get the nomination runs as an independent, a three-way split would hurt GOP chances of holding the seat. The likely frontrunner for the GOP nod is now state party Chairman Mark Amodei, whose path to victory and the nomination becomes clearer if the ruling stands. State Sen. Greg Brower is also in the race. Former U.S.S. Cole Commander Kirk Lippold is also running, and had spoken out against the party nomination process. Democrats also had multiple candidates running, but party leaders view state Treasurer Kate Marshall as their strongest candidate. Former state party chairman Jill Derby, who indicated this week she wouldn't step aside in favor of Marshall, is also running, as is former state education regent Nancy Price. Both Derby and Price have lost to Heller before.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/05/gop-fortunes-brighten-in-nevada-house-race-19