Earlier today we reported that Gov. John Kasich had failed to obtain enough signatures on his petition to be on the ballot in the Pennsylvania primary. It turns out that’s not the only state where he dropped the ball, however.
Yes, John Kasich also didn’t gather enough names to be included on the Illinois ballot. Seriously. From UPI.
Last week was the deadline for candidates to submit signatures to appear on the ballot in the state’s March 15 primary. Kasich did not have enough valid signatures in the 1st, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th congressional districts, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections. In the 14th district alone, he is short by 779 signatures.
As in Pennsylvania, this only prevents you from appearing on the ballot if, in fact, there is a challenge. Kasich’s defense in the previous case is that the challenge came too late. In this case, no one filed a challenge at all.
“We don’t count signatures and throw people off without an objection,” said Ken Menzel, general counsel for the Board of Elections.
“We’re confident that we’re going to be on the ballot everywhere in Illinois,” Rob Nichols, a spokesman for Kasich for America, told Politico on Wednesday.
So Kasich will be on the ballot. But considering that he couldn’t even scrape together a couple thousand signatures of people saying “sure it’s fine, you can run,” it’s hard to imagine he’s going to do well.
UPI explains the districts where Kasich failed: the South Side of Chicago (1st), Madison County in the southernmost part of the state (12th), the city of Champaign in central Illinois (13th), parts of DeKalb and DuPage counties in the Chicago suburbs (14th), southeastern Illinois (15th) and north-central Illinois, including Rockford (16th).
You know, places with population.
The mark of a truly powerhouse campaign. Way to go Gov. Kasich! You’re not only unable to get the signatures, you’re not even consequential enough for anyone to care enough to challenge it. Great job!
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