TALLAHASSEE -- An appeals court is allowing a Tampa Bay area congressional candidate to stay on the ballot for now.
The First District appeals court issued a stay for Republican Jerry Torres, who faces removal from the ballot in U.S. House District 14 just two weeks before the August 23rd primary. The Florida Democratic Party sued to remove Torres from the ballot, saying he didn't properly notarize his qualifying paperwork.
Torres' attorneys said in a motion that the original ruling will cause irreparable harm to Torres' campaign, depriving him of endorsements and potential fundraising opportunities. Torres calls the Democrats' lawsuit "a desperate attempt to protect (incumbent Rep.) Kathy Castor from having to defend her failed policies."
James Judge and Sam Nashagh are also running in the Republican primary. Christopher Bradley is attempting to primary Castor for the Democrats.
Information from the News Service of Florida is contained in this report.
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