Minneapolis, MN — The Minnesota Supreme Court has worked quickly and made a decision in the DFL v. Trump case as social media users have fondly named it. The court has ruled in favor of the Minnesota Republican Party which means Donald Trump and Mike Pence will be on the November Ballot.
As Alpha News reported late last week, DFL Chair Ken Martin filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Steve Simon and the MN Republican Party. The argument found in Martin’s lawsuit claimed that the Republican Party violated State Law by not electing alternate presidential electors.
The Minnesota Supreme Court asked the Republican Party to file a response to the Democratic Party’s petition. The party, though late with their petition, outlined four reasons as to why the Trump-Pence ticket should remain on the ballot.
The Court’s decision came so quickly because absentee voting in Minnesota begins on September 23rd, 2016.
In separate press releases just minutes apart, both Ken Martin, Chair of the MNDFL and Keith Downey, Chair of the MNGOP traded barbs as to the court’s decision.
Keith Downey states, “We are pleased the Court struck down this blatant Democrat attempt to rig the Minnesota election for Hillary Clinton and disenfranchise Minnesota voters. Our legally filed ballot of Donald Trump and Mike Pence and our electors and alternate electors were properly certified by the Secretary of State. Beyond a court ruling, however, the real solution is to get out and vote for Donald Trump and your Republican legislators – that is the only way we’ll ever close this sad chapter of Democrat corruption.”
Martin said he is, “disappointed with the result today, but respects the Supreme Court’s decision.”
“Despite very clear statutory guidance and frequent communication from the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office, the Republicans failed to properly follow the law which required them to elect both electors and alternate electors. It should not have been a surprise to either Donald Trump’s campaign nor the Minnesota Republican Party the steps they needed to take to ensure ballot access. If they can’t competently follow the rules and steps to properly get on the ballot, how does anyone expect them to run the country,” said Martin.
With just 57 days left until election day and 11 days until absentee balloting in Minnesota is open,both parties are focused on getting their candidate to the finish line on election night.
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Preya Samsundar
Preya Samsundar was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. She graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities this Spring with a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, with a minor in Strategic Communications. Preya has previously worked on several State Campaign Races.
