Two new Nebraska political parties can continue working to place candidates on the November ballot after a Lancaster County judge dismissed separate challenges brought by the state’s major political parties.
The Nebraska Examiner reports that District Judge Darla Ideus ruled Wednesday in favor of the America First Party and the Nebraska Working People Party. Ideus also dissolved temporary restraining orders that had prevented Secretary of State Bob Evnen from certifying the parties while the cases were pending.
The Nebraska Republican Party challenged the America First Party, arguing its name and conservative platform were intended to confuse voters and draw support away from Republican candidates.
Evnen had acknowledged that the party’s name could potentially mislead voters but concluded state law did not give him the authority to reject it on that basis. Republican attorneys argued the secretary had broader implied authority to prevent voter confusion.
The court decisions can be appealed to the Nebraska Supreme Court. Click here for the full Nebraska Examiner story.