GOP Candidates Sue Over Ballot Slating Law
The Illinois House of Representatives chamber in Springfield.
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Four Republicans hoping to be slated to face Democrat legislators in November have filed suit after the legislative supermajority and Governor JB Pritzker rushed through legislation earlier this month to end the process of slating candidates after a primary for a general election.
Republicans and Democrats have long used the process to fill open ballot slots in districts that are considered marginally competitive or even a reach for each party. No slated candidate has won a seat in the House or Senate since 2018.
Many Republicans accused Democrats of rushing the legislation through to protect Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville). The GOP organized petitions for former Edwardsville Police Chief Jay Keeven, who was able to organize enough petitions to get on the ballot before Democrats passed the legislation banning slating.
In a suit and temporary restraining order request filed in Sangamon County Circuit Court, the group, candidates Leslie Collazo, Daniel Behr, James Kirchner, and Carl Kunz, say the law violates the state constitution by changing election law during an election cycle.
“[The law] impairs the rights of suffrage exercised by Plaintiffs and others in the 2024 general election by restricting Plaintiffs’ efforts to gain access to the ballot by changing the rules in the middle of that process,” the lawsuit states. “ [The law] impairs the rights of suffrage exercised by Plaintiffs and others in the 2024 general election by restricting Plaintiffs’ efforts to gain access to the ballot by changing the rules in the middle of that process.”
Collazo is hoping to be slated to face Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago). President Biden won Ford’s 8th House District by 63 percentage points in 2020. Kunz is attempting to Democrat Michael Crawford in a district Biden won by 56 percentage points in 2020. Kirchner is attempting to face Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago). Biden won that downtown and southside district by 75 points in 2020.
Behr filed petitions to be slated shortly after the Governor signed the bill into law. He’s hoping to face appointed Rep. Tracy Katz-Muhl (D-Northbrook) in a district President Biden won by 29 points in 2020.
As of Tuesday night, no hearing date had been set.