After this morning’s oral arguments the state Supreme Court is considering whether a Minnesota law is constitutional, which lets political parties choose which candidates appear on the ballot in the March presidential primary. Plaintiffs’ attorney Erick Kaardal warns the state G-O-P will completely dictate the result of the primary election. “I can tell you absolutely today what the result of Minnesota’s GOP presidential primary ballot will be,” Kaardal told the justices. “All the votes counted will be for Trump, and no votes will be counted for anyone else.”
But Assistant Minnesota Attorney General Nathan Hartshorn said to the court a presidential primary is different than any other election in Minnesota. “It is procedurally a part of a political party’s determination on a national level of whom that party is going to nominate nationally for president,” he said.
Both sides are hoping for a quick ruling because absentee balloting is scheduled to begin January 17th in Minnesota.