...so we don't have to. Here's Vox's reading of the case:
The court papers for Louis H. Reiter vs. Mary Kiffmeyer are now online. This is the case challenging the legality of the petitions Rep. Gil Gutknecht has been using in lieu of filing affidavits of candidacy.
The Gutknecht argument, as voiced by Minnesota Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer, is that there should be no time limit for collecting the signatures on petitions for major party endorsed candidates. The big drawback for this argument is that, according to state law, major party candidates for Congress are not allowed to use the petition process. Here's the wording, emphasis mine:
204B.03 Manner of nomination.
Candidates of a major political party for any partisan office except presidential elector and all candidates for nonpartisan office shall apply for a place on the primary ballot by filing an affidavit of candidacy as provided in section 204B.06, and except as otherwise provided in section 204D.07, subdivision 3, shall be nominated by primary. Candidates for any partisan office who do not seek the nomination of a major political party shall be nominated by nominating petition as provided in sections 204B.07 and 204B.08, and, except for presidential elector candidates, shall file an affidavit of candidacy as provided in section 204B.06.Mary Kiffmeyer will no doubt contend that the previous Secretary of State, Democrat Joan Growe, accepted Gutknecht's petitions, which would make them historically valid de facto if not de jure.
Since the law is specific — which means that Gutknecht's petitions have been invalid all along — the only way the Minnesota Supreme Court could rule in his favor would be to declare parts of the law invalid.
Now go over and read the rest of Vox Verax's always fresh content. A mind doesn't live by one congressional district alone. Walz campaign staff are exempt from this maxim--the rest of you can show those hard-working kids some love at our Act Blue page.
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