Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Robinson is on the party's ballot after taking the Secretary of State's office to court over invalidated signatures on Robinson's petitions.
The Secretary of State's office said last Friday Robinson had failed to earn enough valid signatures in the 2nd Congressional District, missing out by 22 signatures. Robinson's campaign fired back with a lawsuit filed Tuesday, saying there were about 100 signatures deemed invalid by the secretary's office that were actually valid.
On Twitter, Robinson celebrated accordingly:
Secretary of State spokeswoman Lynn Bartels on Wednesday confirmed Robinson was on the ballot.
Robinson's attorney Michael Francisco said Wednesday Denver District Court Judge Ross Buchanan ordered Secretary of State Wayne W. Williams to put Robinson back on the ballot after about a 10 minute hearing. The judge's order restored 40 signatures initially deemed invalid, which was more than enough to secure Robinson's spot on the primary.
"I want to express my thanks and appreciation to the staff at the Secretary of State's office for going above and beyond to correct those signatures that were improperly rejected," Robinson said in a statement. "If we've learned anything this cycle, it's that half of the rules governing this process are unenforceable, and the other half are so vague they require the constant intervention of the courts. Clearly, it's time for some reform."
His inclusion means the Republican Primary field is set. In addition to Robinson, the June primary ballot will include:
- State Treasurer Walker Stapleton
- Former Parker Mayor Greg Lopez
- Castle Rock businessman Victor Mitchell
Like Robinson, Mitchell qualified onto the ballot through the petition process. Stapleton and Lopez qualified through the Republican State Assembly, though Stapleton initially tried to gain ballot access through the petitioning process.
