CNN: “Green Party candidates for key congressional races will likely not appear on Montana ballots this fall after the US Supreme Court declined Tuesday to take up an emergency petition from the state’s Republican secretary of state.”
“The decision could have a major impact on a competitive US Senate race between Republican incumbent Sen. Steve Daines and Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock. Justice Elena Kagan issued the order on Tuesday without comment or recorded dissent. CNN has reached out to Montana Secretary of State Cory Stapleton’s office for comment. Stapleton filed an emergency request Monday urging the high court to place a hold on proceedings pending further legal action after lower courts had approved the Green Party’s absence from the ballot. Montana Republicans earlier this year backed an effort to qualify the Green Party, which has traditionally drawn some liberal voters from the Democrats, for the ballot. But after that was revealed, state Democrats urged enough people who signed petitions to disavow their support.”