Abby Finkenauer is ultimately responsible for being kicked off the ballot
Had Abby Finkenauer did more than the bare minimum than what state law required she would not be in this predicament.
On Sunday, Polk County District Court Judge Scott Beattie reversed the State Objection Panel's denial of objections to former U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer's nominating petitions. His decision effectively kicked her off the Democratic primary ballot in Iowa’s U.S. Senate race.
My initial reaction:
The State Objection Panel consisted of State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, Attorney General Tom Miller, a Democrat, and Secretary of State Paul Pate, a Republican.
When it convened on March 29, the State Objection Panel allowed three signatures (one in Allamakee County and two in Cedar County). That ruling left Finkenauer with 100 signatures in Allamakee County and 101 in Cedar County. They ruled 2-1 (with Pate in disagreement) that the campaign "substantially complied" with the law.
When Attorney General Tom Miller's petitions were challenged earlier in the day, the panel ruled the opposite way. As a result, Miller had to recuse himself from the panel, and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, a Republican, took his place. Gregg and Pate ruled 2-1 to exclude signatures with an incorrect date.
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