The Michigan Secretary of State is recommending that Paul Clements not be placed on the August ballot for the Democratic primary in Southwest Michigan’s 6th Congressional District.
Clements was the Democratic candidate who challenged Republican Representative Fred Upton in 2014 and 2016. This year five other Democrats have filed to run for their party’s nomination. 1,000 signatures from registered voters are needed to make the ballot.
A memo from the Secretary of State’s office says a challenge to petitions turned in by Clements shows he was nine short.
The challenge was filed by Andrew Davis. A spokesman for the campaign of Democratic candidate Matt Longjohn says Davis is a supporter of Longjohn’s bid for Congress, but does not have an official position with their campaign.
The Board of State Canvassers is scheduled to meet on Friday. They will consider to challenge to Clements’ petition as well as a report that another of the Democrats seeking the 6th district nomination, Eponine Garrod, did not submit enough signatures from registered voters to qualify for the ballot.
