A Republican attempt to prevent a Democratic congressional hopeful from listing his past experience as an astronaut on a California ballot has failed.
The Sacramento Bee reports:
A Sacramento judge has ruled that Jose Hernandez, who flew in the shuttle Discovery three years ago, can use the ballot designation of “astronaut” in his current congressional bid.
…A lawsuit filed by the Sacramento law firm of Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk argued that a ballot designation of “astronaut” for Hernandez would violate state elections law because he has left NASA.
But Sacramento Superior Court Judge Lloyd G. Connelly disagreed, and ruled this afternoon that Herrnandez can keep the moniker.
Ballot designations must reflect one’s current profession or vocation, or one held during the previous calendar year, the lawsuit said.
The challenge was filed after Hernandez sought a ballot designation of “astronaut/scientist/engineer.”
