NC Democrats appeal order to place Green Party candidates on state ballots
Democrats filed a notice of appeal seeking to reverse a federal judge's order that, if upheld, would put Green Party candidates for federal and state seats on North Carolina ballots alongside Republicans and Democrats
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The North Carolina Democratic Party is appealing a decision by a federal judge who last week ordered state elections officials to place Green Party candidates on November ballots.
Hoh’s placement on the ballot could complicate the election for Democratic former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley, who is competing for the seat against Republican U.S. Rep. Ted Budd and Libertarian Shannon Bray. A far-left candidate could take liberal votes from the more moderate Beasley in a tight race.
The order, issued Friday by U.S. District Judge James C. Devers III, sought to bring an end to the back-and-forth over whether Green Party candidates would be on North Carolina ballots this year. The party’s candidates have until Wednesday to provide requisite paperwork for ballot inclusion, according to the order.
A spokesman for the North Carolina State Board of Elections didn’t respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. Hoh and lawyers for the state Democratic Party also didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
The elections board, which consists of three Democrats and two Republicans, voted unanimously last week to recognize the Green Party as a political party in the state, citing a review from county elections boards showing that the group seeking recognition collected a sufficient number of valid signatures.
The state Democratic Party joined the federal case in an effort to keep the Green Party’s candidates off the ballot due in part to the fraud investigation.
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