Four Tennessee GOP candidate for Congress, including two endorsed by prominent alleged sexual abusers in the Party, have been kicked off the ballot for the 5th District seat by the state Party’s executive committee for failing to have voted in three of the past four primaries, the Tennessee Star reports.
Morgan Ortagus, Robby Starbuck, Baxter Lee, and Stewart Parks were all excluded from the ballot, but they can appeal the committee’s ruling. Ortagus received the endorsement of accused sexual abuser Donald Trump; accused sexual abuser and guy who never made it to the orgy Madison Cawthorn, a North Carolina Congressman facing a tough reelection challenge, endorsed Starbuck, perhaps thinking he’s a Battlestar Galactica character.
According to the state Party rules, individuals are considered to be not active in state Party politics, and therefore ineligible to run for the Party’s nomination, if they have not voted in three of the last four statewide primaries. None of those qualified under the tight restrictions, which are also the basis for state Republicans’ voter registration purge recommendations. The candidates have until Thursday to appeal the committee’s decision, and the slate will be sent to the Tennessee Secretary of State on April 21st.