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Associated PressA state ruling leaves Democrats no way to replace their dropout congressional candidate with U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch, who lost a bid for Senate.
FORT LAUDERDALE - Democratic congressional candidate Jim Stork's name must stay on the ballot because he missed a deadline for withdrawing, state election officials have decided.
The former Wilton Manors mayor announced plans to withdraw from the race against Republican Rep. Clay Shaw two weeks ago because of a heart condition.
The Florida Democratic Party had hoped to substitute another candidate for Stork, an openly gay candidate who raised $958,852 from donors across the nation, in the 22nd District. Party officials had no immediate comment.
Names floated as possible substitutes for Stork included U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch, who did not seek re-election to his 20th District seat so he could run for the U.S. Senate. He lost in the Democratic primary to Betty Castor.
Florida election officials sent Stork a letter Wednesday denying his withdrawal because he missed the Sept. 21 deadline.
Stork initially tried to withdraw by e-mail on Sept. 17. He followed up with a notarized letter, as required, but it was not received until Sept. 24, said Department of State spokeswoman Jenny Nash. She said the agency never received the e-mail and that overseas ballots already have been mailed with Stork's name on them.
State law gives the department discretion to allow late withdrawals, but Division of Elections director Dawn Roberts wrote to Stork that his request was denied "in the interest of avoiding disruption and confusion."
Roberts' division is under Secretary of State Glenda Hood, an appointee of Republican Gov. Jeb Bush.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Greg Speed said Democrats think the state ruled incorrectly but that any challenge would be up to the Florida party.