Former North Dakota gubernatorial candidates went unrepresented in a court hearing Monday when Solicitor General Douglas Bahr failed to show up. Due to confusion over start times, Bahr missed a hearing in Morton County on a lawsuit filed by Paul Sorum over the result of 2012’s race for governor. Sorum, an independent candidate in the 2012 race, filed a lawsuit after his loss. Citing an error in paperwork, he requested the more than 300,000 votes for the Republican and Democrat candidates be thrown out and he be named governor. Gov. Jack Dalrymple was declared the winner with 64 percent of the vote. Democratic candidate Ryan Taylor received 35 percent. Sorum received 1.69 percent.
The other candidates had listed their candidacy and lieutenant governor candidates on two separate forms instead of the same form as required by law.
In court documents, Sorum said the Libertarian candidate for governor, Roland Riemers was removed from the 2012 general election ballot by the secretary of state after the primary for the same paperwork violation. He said the North Dakota Supreme Court upheld the decision. “I just want to make sure the law is followed,” he said.
Sorum said he passed Bahr on his way out of the courthouse and Bahr, who was walking in, smiled and said hello.
Full Article: State misses hearing in governor’s race lawsuit.