Montana News
Court denies Democrats' request to remove Green Party Senate candidate from the ballot
A district court judge has denied Montana Democrats’ request to remove the Green Party candidate from the U.S. Senate race. Green Party candidate Robert Barb will appear on the November ballot under the court’s order. Barb will face Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, Republican Tim Sheehy and Libertarian Sid Daoud in the race.
- Duration:
- 1m
- Broadcast on:
- 05 Sep 2024
- Audio Format:
- mp3
With Montana News, I'm Eleanor Smith. A District Court judge has denied Montana Democrats' requests to remove the Green Party candidate from the U.S. Senate race. They plan to appeal that ruling. M.T.B.R. Shaley Rager reports. Green Party candidate Robert Barb will appear on the November ballot under the court's order. Barb will face Democratic incumbent U.S. Senator John Tester, Republican Tim Sheehy, and Libertarian Sid Dowd in the race. It was in Clark District Court judge Michael McMahon found that the Green Party correctly nominated Barb to replace a candidate who dropped out. McMahon also wrote that state law provides for an official procedure to contest a candidate and that the Montana Democratic Party did not use it. Michael Downey, who won the Green Party's primary in June, left the race at the 11th hour saying he was worried he would take votes away from Tester. Robin Driscoll, chair of the Montana Democrats, says the party disagrees with the ruling and will appeal the decision to the Montana Supreme Court. She also pointed to Barb's past support for the Republican Party in donations and social media posts saying he's not a true Green Party candidate. Green Party ballot access coordinator Steve Kelly has rejected that claim. In Helena, I'm Shaley Rager.