A Mississippi judge has tossed out state Sen. Chris McDaniel’s challenge to that state’s June 24 GOP primary runoff results, ending another chapter in one of the most bitterly contested U.S. Senate primaries in recent memory and bringing longtime Sen. Thad Cochran one step closer to another term in Washington. Special Judge Hollis McGehee ruled that McDaniel waited too long to file his challenge with state Republican Party. McDaniel filed the challenge 41 days after the election; McGehee said that under state law the challenge had to be filed within 20 days.
“While we absolutely respect the legal process which provides guidance for this challenge, we strongly disagree with Judge McGehee on this point of law,” McDaniel campaign spokesman Noel Fritsch told CNN in a written statement. “Chris will take the weekend to take stock in the legal options on the table and will make an announcement early next week.”
McDaniel, who received strong support from tea party and anti-establishment groups, narrowly edged Cochran in Mississippi’s June 3 Republican primary. But neither candidate cracked the 50% threshold needed to win, forcing a runoff three weeks later that Cochran won by slightly more than 7,000 votes.
Full Article: Judge dismisses Chris McDaniel challenge – CNN Political Ticker – CNN.com Blogs.