Judge Scott Beatty, appointed in 2018 by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, ruled late Sunday overturning a three-member panel of state-elected officials. The commission concluded last week that Finkenauer’s campaign executives had complied effectively with Iowa law requiring candidates to receive 3,500 names, including at least 100 signatures from at least 19 counties. Finkenauer plans to appeal the ruling, and the Iowa Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a hearing by the end of the week to meet deadlines for sending ballots to overseas voters. Two Republicans challenged Finkenauer’s reference documents, saying signatures from at least two counties did not have the required date to accompany them. In the past, the commission, which includes the secretary of state, the attorney general and the state auditor, found that the petitions were in substantial compliance with the law, although signatures were missing or difficult to interpret. Attorney General Tom Miller and Auditor Rob Sand, both Democrats, voted in favor of Finkenhauer’s petitions, citing a precedent to respect campaigns that used the appropriate forms and made efforts to comply with the law. Secretary of State Paul Pate, a Republican, voted against Finkenauer. Kim Schmett and Leanne Pellet, former Republican county election officials, challenged the signatures and then filed a lawsuit against the Iowa Objections Committee last week. Beattie concluded that the committee’s legal interpretation was incorrect and that the law clearly states that each signature must be accompanied by a date. His decision dropped signatures from Allamakee and Cedar counties on Finkenauer’s candidacy applications, meaning that her campaign failed to submit at least 100 signatures from at least 19 counties as required. Beatty said he was not happy about the decision. “This court should not be able to make a difference in elections and Ms. Finkenauer and her supporters should have the opportunity to advance her candidacy. However, the job of this court is to sit as an arbitrator and enforce the law without passion or prejudice. He is required to rule without taking into account the politics of the time. “Here the court tried to fulfill this role,” he said. Finkenauer accused Beattie of making offers to Grassley and his allies in Washington. “This wrong midnight decision is an outrageous and partisan gift to the Republicans in Washington who orchestrated this unjust legal action,” he said. “We are exploring all our options to fight back against this unjust partisan attack and to ensure that the voices of the Iowans are heard at the ballot box.” Finkenauer said her applications had more than 5,000 signatures and she is confident she has met the conditions to be on the ballot. Beattie promised last week that he would file a decision by midnight Sunday to give each side time to appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court. He submitted the decision at 22:49 on Sunday. Pate said he needs to know if Finkenauer qualifies for the ballot by Friday to give him time to print ballots and send them to overseas voters who must get their ballots by April 23 to comply. law. Finkenhauer, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2019-2021, seeks to be on the ballot with Democrat Mike Franken, retired Navy Admiral, and Glenn Hurst, a physician and member of the Miden City Council. The first winner will face Grassley, who is seeking an eighth term in the Senate. Federal fundraising figures and nationwide polls show that Grassley, who turns 89 in September, is able to hold the post he has held since 1981 for another six years. Grassley has raised more than $ 4.7 million, Finkenauer about $ 1.9 million and Franken $ 1.8 million. Hurst raised just over $ 66,000. Republican Sen. Jim Carlin, who will run on the Republican ballot against Grassley, raised $ 282,151. The Des Moines Register / Medicom poll published in November gave Grassley an 18-point lead over Finkenauer. Alan R. Ostergren, Smet and Pellet’s lawyer, said the judge’s decision was a victory for the rule of law. “Iowa residents expect candidates to follow state law and follow the same rules as the hundreds of other candidates who successfully qualified to run on the ballot,” he said in a statement. “Anyone who has ever been involved in a political campaign knows that you can easily avoid problems by submitting more than the minimum number of signatures. “Abby Finkenhauer did not do that for some reason and was cut.”
