Election board confirms ballot removal of seven candidates

SPRINGFIELD (Heartland Newsfeed) — As the ballots for the November 6 general election become certified, the state’s election authority announced the removal of seven candidates from the ballot. Challenges were filed July 2 on independent gubernatorial candidates William “Doc” Walls (with Taxpayers United of America founder and running mate Jim Tobin) and Gregg Moore (with running mate Magistrale Morgan) as well as five General Assembly candidates — Jay Murphy (I-51st District), Aaron Goldberg (G-64th District), John Eldon Mathey (L-70th District), Thadeus Freed (L-107th District) and Joe Robbie (G-115th District). Following contested objection cases before the Illinois State Board of Elections would resolve on August 24 that none of the candidates had enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. Despite forced attempts of a challenge, officials from the Democratic and Republican parties were unable to disqualify the Libertarian slate with Grayson “Kash” Jackson atop the ticket, as well as Conservative Party candidate Sam McCann. Additionally, Hal Patton of the Downstate United Party made it on the ballot in the Illinois Senate race for District 56. With the general election ballot certified, the gubernatorial race is a four-way fight between Republican incumbent Bruce Rauner, Democratic opponent JB Pritzker, Jackson and McCann. All other statewide offices are a three-way race between the Republican, Democratic and Libertarian parties. Patton, who ran in the Republican primary until later disqualified, will face off against against Democrat Rachelle Aud Crowe in the Senate race. State Sen. William R. Haine, the current Democratic senator from Alton, announced last August that he would not seek re-election.