The state of Indiana is appealing a court ruling allowing Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Rust to appear on the May 2024 primary ballot.
1:27 PM Wednesday update
U.S. Senate candidate John Rust announced Wednesday he will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to remain on the Indiana ballot. Rust said this follows the U.S. Supreme Court unanimous ruling that states could not remove federal candidates from the ballot.
Rust remains a candidate during this appeal process to get back on the primary ballot.
“I’m in this fight until all Hoosiers’ rights are restored,” he said.
ORIGINAL STORY
By Whitney Downard | Indiana Capital Chronicle
For The Republic
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Supreme Court denied U.S. Senate candidate John Rust a rehearing in a case to determine his eligibility for the Republican primary ballot. Previously, the justices stayed a lower court ruling that booted Rust from the ballot.
Rust wants to challenge Congressman Jim Banks for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination but a state law requires a candidate’s two most recent primary votes align with their preferred party — a bar Rust doesn’t meet.
Rust voted Republican in 2016 and Democrat in 2012. The law allows an exception, should the county’s party chair grant it. Jackson County Republican Party Chair Amanda Lowery elected not to do so in this case.
He sued to gain access to the Republican ballot, saying the measure barred the vast majority of Hoosiers from running under their preferred party.
Marion County Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Dietrick found in December that the two-primary requirement is unconstitutional. But the state appealed, and the Indiana Supreme Court expedited the case as a matter of “significant public interest.”
Both the Indiana Supreme Court and Indiana Election Commission separately found him ineligible in February rulings. The commission cited the law, which the Supreme Court upheld in a ruling — prompting Rust to file for a rehearing.
Previously, Rust vowed to appeal all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court but ballots are already printed and early voting is currently underway for the May primary. Election Day is May 7.
Senior Reporter Casey Smith contributed to this story.
The Indiana Capital Chronicle covers state government and the state legislature. For more, visit indianacapitalchronicle.com.
