Ariz. Green Party sues ’sham candidates’ allegedly recruited by GOP to syphon votes from Dems

Ariz. Green Party sues to block ’sham candidates’

PHOENIX — The Arizona Green Party is asking a judge to kick 11 Green candidates off the November ballot amid allegations they were recruited by Republican officials to siphon votes from Democrats.

The Green Party filed the lawsuit Monday in federal court, seeking an immediate hearing.

The lawsuit follows an Aug. 30 complaint by the Arizona Democratic Party alleging the candidates were newly registered voters or changed their registration to Green for the sole purpose of getting support from liberals who would probably vote for Democrats if there wasn’t a Green Party option.

The candidates used a previously little-known provision in state law allowing Green Party candidates to qualify for the November ballot by getting just one write-in vote in the primary.