Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) was rejected from Florida’s Democratic primary ballot by a federal judge.
Last month, Tampa lawyer Michael Steinberg filed a motion to require a Democratic primary in the state, with Phillips, spiritual writer Marianne Williamson, and news commentator Cenk Uygur on the ballot. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor rejected the motion, Politico reported.
Florida law does not require that parties hold primaries, leaving the matter up to the parties themselves. Florida’s Democratic Party decided against holding one, as it believed there would be little contest against incumbent President Joe Biden.
While Phillips protested the move, Steinberg filed the lawsuit independently, being unaffiliated with him or any candidate. He argued that to refuse to hold a primary was unconstitutional.
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“Were the court to deny relief, a grave inequity would result because only President Joseph Biden would have gained access to the ballot by unconstitutional means,” he wrote.
Steinberg argued his case in a hearing held on Wednesday, failing to win over Winsor.