Kansas Dem heads to court to get name removed from Senate ballot

Former Kansas Senate candidate Chad Taylor (D) is appealing to his state’s supreme court as he looks to overturn a decision by the Kansas Secretary of State that he can’t remove his name from the ballot and clear the way for an independent to face Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) one-on-one.

{mosads}Taylor is petitioning the state supreme court, arguing he submitted a “timely, lawful and unequivocal” letter of withdrawal. He claims in the petition, as he has previously, that the secretary of State’s office told him when he submitted his letter that he had submitted all necessary paperwork before later reversing course.

Taylor asks the state supreme court to stay the printing of ballots as it considers the case and act quickly, as the ballot has to be set by Sept. 18.

Polls show Roberts in a tough head-to-head battle, tied with independent candidate Greg Orman, even with Taylor nominally on the ballot. But Taylor is siphoning off Democratic voters, making it harder for Orman to win if he doesn’t get off the ballot.