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Phillips, a Democratic congressman representing Minnesota, had accused the state party of forcing him to spend about $300,000 collecting signatures in a separate process to gain access to the ballot.
In his complaint last week asking the state Supreme Court to overturn his exemption, he cited a section of state election law that grants voting rights to candidates who are recognized by news organizations as likely candidates. In his brief, he argued that despite the widely publicized publicity surrounding Phillips’ candidacy, the State Board of Elections could not determine whether Phillips met the test.
The justices said in a court opinion Friday that the Wisconsin Selection Board “did not have any discussion of Mr. Phillips or any other Democratic presidential primary candidates” during its entire candidate selection meeting last month, and that the meeting The incident reportedly lasted “a little over five minutes.”
The judges wrote that the commission “erroneously exercised its discretion” to direct “Dean Phillips’ name to be placed on the 2024 Democratic presidential primary ballot as a candidate for President of the United States.”
The Liberal Party holds a 4-3 majority on the court, and judges often clash publicly in cases involving politics. That did not happen in this case as there was no dissent.
Phillips praised the decision in a statement.
“We are fighting to give voters choice this election cycle, and Democratic leadership across the country should embrace this if they truly care about conducting democratic elections,” Phillips said. Told.
Before Friday’s court ruling, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) called Phillips’ challenge a “distraction.”
“I think the party can understand that. I can’t believe this is going on. It seems ridiculous to me,” Evers told reporters late last month, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Ta. “It appears to me that (the committee) is following that process. I don’t know what his position will be in court, but frankly, it’s just a distraction.”
Phillips is the only Democrat challenging Biden for the nomination, receiving about 20% of the vote in the New Hampshire Democratic primary. Biden, whose name does not appear on the New Hampshire ballot, received 64% of the vote through a write-in campaign.
In three other states (Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee), Biden is the only Democratic candidate on the state primary ballot.
Phillips campaign senior strategist Jeff Weaver said in a statement that the court “deals a blow to Biden’s allies’ anti-democratic efforts to illegally keep Phillips from voting.”
Weaver said the campaign expects the DNC to “take note” of Friday’s ruling as the committee considers “the unwarranted removal of Dean Phillips from the ballots in North Carolina and Florida.” He added that there is.
Phillips vowed to continue his primary campaign efforts in South Carolina, where the Democratic primary will be held on Saturday, and Michigan, which votes on February 27th. Because Mr. Phillips missed his eligibility deadline, he will not appear on the February 6 Nevada primary ballot.
The Wisconsin Democratic Party said after the ruling that it is looking ahead to the general election.
“Wisconsin Democrats remain focused and united in our efforts to ensure President Biden defeats Donald Trump this November,” said Wisconsin Democratic Party Spokesman Joseph Oslund. “I look forward to joining us as Dean Phillips’ campaign reaches its inevitable conclusion.”
Patrick Marley contributed to this report.
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