Court Ruling Could Impact Governor's Race

A Sangamon County judge is expected to rule today (Thursday 9/18)
on an appeal by Republican attorneys to remove a Libertarian candidate for
Illinois governor from the November ballot.
 
Sangamon County Circuit Judge Patrick Kelley heard arguments in which the GOP
attorneys questioned the validity of signatures Libertarian candidates gathered
to get on the ballot.
Political analysts say Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Chad Grimm could
draw votes that otherwise would go to Republican candidate Bruce Rauner
in the expectedly close race against Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn.
 
 The State Board of Elections decided last month to allow Grimm to appear on the
ballot.
 
 At the same time, the board ruled that Green Party, Constitution and
Independent candidates should not be included on the ballot because the parties
gathered too few valid signatures. Democratic Party attorneys had challenged the
validity of the signatures for the Green candidate, who could have taken votes
away from Quinn.