Rodriguez, Hughes remain on Democratic ballot after exiting governor’s race
A Wisconsin judge on Wednesday rejected a Democratic effort to allow voters who have already returned absentee ballots for the state’s primary election to void those ballots and request replacements. The ruling, issued in Madison, leaves in place more than 117,000 absentee ballots that had been returned as of Wednesday.
The lawsuit was filed after the Democratic primary field for governor shifted when candidates withdrew but their names remained on the ballot. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropped out of the race on July 17 amid a campaign finance scandal. She had been seen as a Democratic frontrunner before her withdrawal. A day later, on July 18, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley reentered the race. Crowley had previously bowed out on July 8.
Democrats were concerned that many of the absentee ballots already returned might have been cast for Rodriguez, according to the Associated Press. Former state economic development director Missy Hughes also dropped out, in June, but her name remains on the ballot alongside Rodriguez’s.
The ruling means voters cannot void their ballots, addressing a Democratic lawsuit filed after candidate withdrawals left voters with unchangeable selections.