Government

Republican primary for U.S. Senate

Signatures of dead voters won’t keep U.S. Senate candidate off Maine primary ballot

Max Linn turned in enough valid petition signatures to run against Eric Brakey in the Republican primary, even though 230 of those signatures were declared invalid.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Max Linn, right, has said his petition was “sabotaged” by the campaign of his primary opponent, state Sen. Eric Brakey, left. Maine’s secretary of state says there’s no evidence of that.

AUGUSTA — Although Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap ruled that more than 200 signatures on Max Linn’s candidate petition were invalid, including several that belonged to people who died years ago, he said Thursday that the Republican U.S. Senate candidate turned in enough valid signatures to remain on the June primary ballot.

The campaign of state Sen. Eric Brakey of Auburn, the other Republican on the ballot, filed a complaint against Linn’s campaign in March after it discovered the signatures of dead voters. The two are vying for the chance to challenge incumbent U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent, in November.

For the complete story in the Portland Press Herald, go to https://www.pressherald.com/2018/04/05/u-s-senate-candidate-stays-on-ballot-despite-signatures-of-dead-voters/