Iowa District 5 Judge Scott Beattie ruled Sunday that Finkenauer’s name may not appear on the original ballot because she did not submit enough signatures under state law. Finkenauer, who lost her candidacy for re-election in 2020, is vying for the position currently held by Senator Chuck Grassley (R). Grassley, 88, is vying for his eighth term in the upper house. Retired Admiral Mike Franken and Midnight City Councilor Glenn Hirst are also Democratic nominees. Iowa requires candidates seeking political office ballot papers to submit at least 3,500 signatures from “voters”, including at least 100 signatures from 19 different counties. Following Finkenauer’s candidacy for office at the State Department, two registered Republicans – Kim Schmett and Leanne Pellet – objected, claiming that some of the signatures submitted were incomplete. Schmett previously chaired Polk County Republicans and Pellet is Cass County Republican co-chair, according to the Des Moines Register. They specifically concerned three signature lines where the date was in dispute. One of the dates appeared to be incorrect and another was blank, according to the ruling. As a result, the couple said Finkenauer did not meet the state’s requirement for at least 100 signatures from 19 counties. The State Objections Panel eventually denied the couple’s objections, arguing that the former lawmaker “substantially complied” with the law. Beattie, however, is now overturning the commission’s decision after Schmett and Pellet sought judicial review of his verdict. “Objections to the Finkenauer petition by Allamakee and Cedar County are confirmed. “The Finkenauer campaign failed to submit at least 100 signatures from at least 19 counties as required by the Iowa Code. . . Finkenauer, in a statement to The Hill on Monday, described the new decision as a “party gift to the Republicans in Washington.” She said the campaign is exploring her options to fight the judge’s decision. Queen Elizabeth II says COVID has left her “tired and exhausted” Watch live: Biden announces new steps to fight gun crime “This wrong midnight decision is an outrageous and partisan gift to the Republicans of Washington who orchestrated this unjust legal action,” Finkenhauer said in a statement. “We are exploring all our options to crack down on this unjust partisan attack and to ensure that the voices of the Iowa people are heard at the ballot box,” he added.
