A sitting state lawmaker from Louisville who won her primary and faced no challenger in the general election has been disqualified after the fact. Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Lawrence VanMeter issued an order Friday upholding a Court of Appeals decision that disqualified Rep. Nima Kulkarni, a Democrat. Louisville. Kulkarni defeated fellow Democrat William Zeitz with 78 percent of the vote this spring. But fellow Democrat Dennis Horlander, whom he unseated in 2018 and beat again in 2020, filed a lawsuit challenging his candidacy earlier this year. year on the grounds that one of the The two people who signed his paperwork were registered Republicans. That signer later changed his party affiliation to Democrat. Horlander’s attorney, Steve Megerle, told WLKY News they were satisfied with the order and hoped that a more complete decision, which Judge VanMeter said would be issued, would bar Kulkarni from participating in a new primary for the seat. Kulkarni’s attorney, James Craig, provided this statement: “We thank the Supreme Court for its review of our position. Because there is now a vacancy in the nomination, it is up to the Jefferson County Democratic Party and party officials of the district 40 nominate a candidate”. Craig told WLKY News that he believes. Kulkarni will be allowed to seek the Democratic nomination for the seat.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —
A sitting state lawmaker from Louisville who won her primary and faced no challenger in the general election has been disqualified after the fact.
Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Lawrence VanMeter issued an order Friday upholding a Court of Appeals decision that disqualified Rep. Nima Kulkarni, D-Louisville.
Kulkarni defeated fellow Democrat William Zeitz with 78 percent of the vote this spring.
But fellow Democrat Dennis Horlander, whom he unseated in 2018 and defeated again in 2020, filed a lawsuit challenging his candidacy earlier this year on the grounds that one of the two people who signed his paperwork was a registered Republican. That signer later changed his party affiliation to Democrat.
Horlander’s attorney, Steve Megerle, told WLKY News they were satisfied with the order and hoped that a more complete decision, which Judge VanMeter said would be issued, would prevent Kulkarni from participating in a new primary for the seat.
Kulkarni’s attorney, James Craig, made this statement: “We thank the Supreme Court for its review of our position. Because there is now a vacancy in the nomination, it is up to the Jefferson County Democratic Party and party officials in the district 40 nominate a candidate.”
Craig told WLKY News he believes Kulkarni will be allowed to seek the Democratic nomination for the seat.
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