Iowa Panel Removes Battaglia From 3rd District Ballot Over Legal Name Rule
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 16
Iowa Panel Removes Battaglia From 3rd District Ballot Over Legal Name Rule
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 16
Summary
Battaglia was struck from Iowa’s 3rd District ballot Monday after the state Objection Panel ruled he was ineligible because he filed under “Battaglia” instead of his legal name, Mark Thomas Andersen.
The decision lands in a high-stakes House race Republicans fear could be tipped by a Libertarian spoiler; GOP groups have already spent nearly $4.5 million defending Rep. Zach Nunn’s seat.
Battaglia says he will appeal and has accused Republicans of suppressing voter choice, while Nunn’s campaign says it only alerted him to signature challenges and denies offering anything for his withdrawal.
A new twist came from Battaglia’s claim that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called him for nearly 12 minutes and warned a Democratic flip would make Kennedy’s “life hell”; Kennedy’s office did not comment.