Only Donald Trump’s name will be on the Republican Party’s ballot in the March presidential primary in Minnesota, after the state Supreme Court rejected a voter challenge late Thursday, just hours after a morning hearing. Plaintiffs’ attorney Erick Kaardal argued unsuccessfully that voters’ expression will be limited. “This is a taxpayer-funded election… and on the GOP side the party has been allowed to dictate that there be one candidate on the ballot,” he said.
But Assistant state Attorney General Nathan Hartshorn argued a presidential primary is different from any other election in Minnesota. “What the process is here is just part of the party’s process of picking their own national candidate,” Hartshorn told the justices.
Absentee voting begins January 17th in Minnesota and state officials were hoping the high court would rule quickly.