Dallas County Republicans have filed a lawsuit to have 128 Democrats kicked off the March 6 primary ballot.
The lawsuit, filed in Dallas County late Friday, contends that Dallas County Democratic Party Chairman Carol Donovan didn't sign the petitions of 128 Democratic Party candidates before sending them to the Texas Secretary of State's office, as required by law.
"Election law is clear as day on paper in terms of what needs to be followed," said Dallas County Republican Party Chairwoman Missy Shorey. "We didn't make the law, but as county chairs, we're responsible for upholding it and the law clearly states that the county chair, and the county chair alone, can sign applications to be on the ballot."
Shorey pointed to copies of applications she said the Dallas County Republicans had three different signatures on them.
"I don't think it really matters, as long as the chair authorizes the signature," said State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, whose application is among those Republicans are questioning the signature. "The substance of the lawsuit is questionable, and from that vantage point, I don't know why they (Dallas County Republican Party) would do something so low."
The news stunned some Democrats after a lawyer for their party notified them of the lawsuit Sunday afternoon.
Dallas County Democratic Chairwoman Carol Donovan declined an interview Monday, but issued a statement over the weekend.
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"It is clear by this attack that the Dallas County GOP cannot win at the ballot box, so they are trying to litigate their way into victories in Dallas County, with no concern for Dallas County voters," Donovan's statement read. "Instead of playing Trump-style politics, they'd be better off legitimately recruiting and fielding their own primary."
As of Monday, no court date has been set.
Read more about this story from our media partners at The Dallas Morning News.
