Colorado Senate Hopeful Keyser Challenges Disqualification
DENVER (AP) - Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Jon Keyser on Tuesday challenged his disqualification from Colorado's GOP primary, seeking a court order that would put his name on the June ballot.
The former state representative and one-time favorite to challenge Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet argued that Secretary of State Wayne Williams erroneously rejected voter signatures that Keyser needed to make the primary.
Denver District Court Judge Elizabeth Starrs said after a hearing she would have a ruling by Friday.
Keyser needed 1,500 signatures from registered Republican voters in each of Colorado's seven congressional districts to qualify. Williams found that Keyser fell 86 signatures short in the 3rd Congressional District, which is represented by GOP Rep. Scott Tipton.
Keyser argued in a court filing that Williams mistakenly rejected 186 valid signatures from that district. Williams said Monday that the person who collected those signatures didn't consistently use his correct address when submitting them, as required by law.
Keyser, an Air Force reserve officer who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, chose to petition his way to the primary rather than earn a spot at the state Republican assembly earlier this month. El Paso County Commissioner Darryl Glenn advanced to the primary at the convention.
Jack Graham, a former Colorado State University athletic director, has petitioned his way to the ballot. Businessman Robert Blaha and former Aurora city councilman Ryan Frazier await word on their own petitions.
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