The judge overhearing Mississippi state Sen. Chris McDaniel’s ( R) challenge to the runoff results of the Republican primary for U.S. Senate is looking to set the trial date in late September.
On Wednesday the Judge, Hollis McGehee, said he wanted to set the trial by the end of the week and that it would likely start on September 15 or Sept. 22, according to the Clarion-Ledger of Mississippi. McGehee had at first indicated that he wanted it to start on Sept. 30 but that it should be sooner given the November general election.
McGehee, according to the Clarion-Ledger’s Sam Hall, said that the general election between Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) and former Rep. Travis Childers (D-MS) would go on despite McDaniel’s challenge.
Really surprised that McGehee is looking at putting #mssen trial date at Sept. 30. Could have impact on military ballots.
— Sam R. Hall (@samrhall) August 20, 2014
Solves that issue. Judge McGehee says election process (including ballot printing) will move forward despite challenge. #mssen
— Sam R. Hall (@samrhall) August 20, 2014
Judge says Sept. 30 was his idea, but backing up on it, because of scope of claims and number of counties #mssen
— Geoffrey Pender (@GeoffPender) August 20, 2014
Judge says he will file a scheduling order by end of this week. Court now in recess. #MSSen
— Emily Wagster Pettus (@EWagsterPettus) August 20, 2014
McDaniel, since the June 24 runoff, has argued that Cochran only won the runoff through illegitimate votes and Democrats crossing over to vote in the Republican runoff. McDaniel has further argued that because of that he is actually the rightful Republican nominee for Senate and should be awarded the nomination.
This post was updated.
