The Nebraska Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the Republican Party’s case to remove Bob Kerrey’s name from the May 15 primary election ballot. The court ruled it has no authority to consider the GOP’s appeal of a Lancaster County District Court order that rejected the party’s effort to overturn a ruling by Secretary of State John Gale placing Kerrey’s name on the ballot as a Democratic Senate candidate. “In election cases, this court has no authority to grant relief where the Legislature has established by statute strict deadlines which must be met in order to guarantee that the state’s election process is safeguarded against uncertainty and disruption,” the court stated. The Republican Party has argued that Kerrey did not establish legal residency or qualify as a registered voter in Nebraska prior to his filing as a candidate a day before the March 1 deadline.
Gale expressed misgivings about whether Kerrey had established legal residency in Nebraska at the time of his filing, but ruled the U.S. Constitution protected his status as a U.S. Senate candidate. The Supreme Court decision appeared to bring the legal squabble to an end and set in motion a big-money, high-stakes battle that will attract national attention and conceivably could determine control of the Senate.
Kerrey is seeking the seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson at the end of the year. Attorney General Jon Bruning, State Treasurer Don Stenberg and state Sen. Deb Fischer of Valentine are among the candidates seeking the Republican nomination.
Full Article: Supreme Court dismisses Kerrey case.