A sitting state senator, embattled judge from Detroit and a handful of ardent supporters of former President Donald Trump — including one spoofed on national television after spreading misinformation about the 2020 election — were disqualified Tuesday from running for state office, according to the Michigan Department of State.
Those ousted from the ballot include:
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The department indicated these four and seven others were booted from the ballots because they did not pay outstanding fines or file missing campaign finance reports at the time they filed an affidavit necessary in order to run for office, violating state campaign finance law.
The affidavit, which candidates must sign, indicates all reports, fines, fees and other necessary payments or paperwork are in order at the time the document was filed.
"Some of the candidates paid fines after signing their affidavit of identity, or subsequently paid their fines, then withdrew their affidavits of identity and filed new affidavits of identity," states a news release from the Michigan Department of State.
"Regardless of steps the candidates took after submitting affidavits of identity with false statements, the department is prohibited by the Michigan Election Law from certifying the candidates’ names to the ballots for this election because they executed an affidavit of identity containing a false statement."
Alexander's chief of staff, LaMar Lemmons, told Gongwer News the issue is a $50 fee that was paid after she filed her affidavit of identity. The campaign plans to hire an attorney to contest the department's ruling, he said.
The Detroit Democrat is in her first term as a state senator. Her 2018 primary victory came as a bit of a surprise to the party establishment after she handily defeated well-known Democratic Sen. David Knezek.
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Other candidates disqualified for filing affidavits despite not paying fees or filing reports include:
The state also disqualified four candidates for reportedly not providing enough information in their filing, or for providing information that indicates they are ineligible to run.
Contact Dave Boucher at dboucher@freepress.com or 313-938-4591. Follow him on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1.