Republican Party of Texas sues to keep U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold off 2018 ballot

[TexasTowelie]

by Patrick Svitek, Texas Tribune

The Texas GOP is suing the Texas secretary of state to keep embattled U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold off the 2018 primary ballot — one day after the Corpus Christi Republican announced he will not seek re-election in 2018.

Farenthold, who's facing a raft of allegations that he sexually harassed staffers and created a hostile work environment, had filed for re-election by the Monday deadline and missed the deadline the next day to withdraw. Still, he asked Texas GOP Chairman James Dickey on Friday not to include him on the ballot, according to the lawsuit, which notes Dickey has until Tuesday to submit the names of all primary candidates to the secretary of state.

Filed late Friday in federal court, the lawsuit calls into question the "incongruity" between the separate deadlines to withdraw and to hand over the names, while arguing Farenthold's appearance on the ballot at this point would violate the "First Amendment associational rights" of the party.

"In short, the State cannot constitutionally force any political party to be represented on the primary election ballot by a candidate with whom it does not wish to associate," the lawsuit said.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2017/12/15/texas-gop-sues-keep-farenthold-ballot/

[IronLionZion]

1. They should double down on this and really be the Gropey Old Perverts

The party of sexual assault and harassment.

[jmowreader]

2. And just kicking Flounder out of Congress wouldn't work...because?

[Renew Deal]

3. I think they will lose on that last point.

But they might win for other reasons. It seems unfair to have to file this far in advance. When is the primary?

[TexasTowelie]

4. March 6 for the primary and May 5 for runoffs. nt

[Renew Deal]

5. Maybe its not so bad then.

On that last point, it would give parties way too much control over who they nominate. It would be an undemocratic change. Of course, that fits in with republican ideology.