CORTES REMAINS ON BALLOT TO CHALLENGE PEARCE

posted by Andrea Kelly

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge said today Jerry Lewis and Olivia Cortes will both appear on the ballot to run against Senate President Russell Pearce in his recall election.

The ruling came after a challenge to Cortes’ candidacy, in which Pearce critics said she was a sham candidate, only on the ballot to split the anti-Pearce vote and allow him to retain his seat.

Maricopa County Judge Edward Burke said in his ruling early voting is already underway, and voters should decide whether Cortes deserves the seat.

The lawsuit claimed Pearce supporters recruited Cortes, and while the judge agreed that was likely the case, he says Cortes has done nothing wrong.