Two Libertarian candidates were removed from Iowa’s November ballot after a State Objection Panel ruling. The panel, made up of Secretary of State Paul Pate, Attorney General Brenna Bird, and State Auditor Rob Sand, reviewed objections filed against several Libertarian candidates seeking statewide and congressional office.

Dispute Over Candidate Name

The challenge against Libertarian congressional candidate Marco Battaglia centered on the name that would appear on the ballot. Battaglia’s legal name is Mark Thomas Anderson, but he filed to run under the name Marco Battaglia, a title he’s used to campaign for years.

Attorney Alan Ostergren, representing the objectors, argued that while candidates routinely use shortened versions of their names on ballots, Battaglia’s ballot name was entirely different from his legal name. Bird and Pate agreed, voting to sustain the objection.

Dispute Over Missing Affidavit

The panel also unanimously sustained an objection against Libertarian lieutenant governor candidate Jules Cutler, who is running as Nicholas Gluba’s lieutenant governor candidate. The objection alleged Cutler failed to file a required affidavit of candidacy before the filing deadline, June 2.

Cutler argued she attempted to submit the affidavit when nomination papers were filed and that an employee in the Secretary of State’s Office told her it was not needed. However, the hearing featured testimony from Dani Phillips, an election specialist with the Secretary of State’s Office, who disputed that account.

Because governor and lieutenant governor candidates run as a ticket, the decision raises questions about the future of Gluba’s candidacy. Libertarian leaders indicated that appeals are likely, with Cutler stating that the campaign owes it to supporters who signed nomination petitions to continue the fight.

Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.