The Minnesota DFL has filed a petition with the Minnesota Supreme Court to have 2016 Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump and his running-mate, Mike Pence, removed from Minnesota’s November’s ballot.
In the petition, DFL Chair Ken Martin claims that the Minnesota GOP broke Minn. Stat. §208.03 when ten alternate presidential electors were not nominated during the GOP State Convention in May, stating:
“On May 20 and May 21, 2016, the State Republican Party held its 2016 State Convention (“State Convention”) in Duluth, Minnesota. The State Convention was attended by at least three delegates from each of Minnesota’s congressional districts, as well as a number of “at-large” delegates. During the convention, delegates to the State 507702.1 3 Convention nominated delegates to attend the 2016 Republican National Convention, as well as ten presidential electors for the November 8, 2016, general election. During the State Convention, however, delegates did not nominate ten alternate presidential electors as required by Minn. Stat. § 208.03.”
The petition further contends that MNGOP Chair, Keith Downey, was informed by the Secretary of State that the Party had not submitted the names of alternate presidential electors to the SOS office, and rather than calling another state convention to nominate alternate state electors, the Minnesota Republican Party leadership instead opted to meet to select and approve alternate presidential electors themselves to then submit to the Secretary of State.
According to the petition, the manner in which the alternates were selected violates Minnesota law as they were not nominated and elected by the the Minnesota Republican Party, instead being selected and approved by the Party leadership months after the state Republican convention was held in May in Duluth.
Due to the alleged violation of Minnesota Law, Ken Martin and the Minnesota State DFL are asking that Trump/Pence names be removed from Minnesota’s November ballot.
More information will be reported as it becomes available.
Andrea Mayer-Bruestle
Andrea Mayer-Bruestle is a former writer for Alpha News.
