Two Republican candidates have been removed from the upcoming primary ballot.
The Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) steering committee met on Sunday to hear the ballot challenge cases of Jesse Battles, candidate for State Senate District 10, and Angelo "Doc" Mancuso, candidate for State House Race District 7, deciding to remove both from the ballot.
Lieutenant governor candidate Dean Odle also pleaded his case at the meeting. Sources say the decision to keep him off the ballot under the party's "sore loser" rule was upheld.
Details of challenges are usually confidential. However, this election cycle, a number of challenges were made public, including challenges against gubernatorial candidate U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and lieutenant gubernatorial candidate former ALGOP Chairman John Wahl.
RELATED: ALGOP steering committee votes down Tuberville, Wahl ballot challenges
"Out of respect for the parties involved, the Alabama Republican Party does not comment on specific challenges," said Alabama Republican Party Communications Director Jeannie Burniston.
The challenge against Battles stemmed from allegations of past and ongoing support for Democratic candidates and elected officials.
Both candidates left in the SD10 race, Amy Dozier-Minton and Andrew Jones, posted about the removal on social media following the decision.
"I just learned that one of my two opponents has been removed from the Republican ballot by the Alabama GOP. Apparently, someone associated with one opponent's campaign filed a candidacy challenge on the other opponent due to some past work for the Democrats," Jones wrote. "If you know me, you know I've certainly never been shy about a hard-fought campaign, and I had been looking forward to a vigorous debate on the issues with BOTH candidates. In the end though, as a result of this removal, only two of us will appear on your May 19 Republican ballot."
Minton responded, denying the accusation that she was involved in the challenge.
"'One of my opponents has been removed from the Republican ballot.' was not involved in the hearing challenge, so you will need to contact the Alabama Republican Party for all questions," she wrote.
"The Alabama Republican Party steering committee evaluates every candidate each year according to the following Bylaws. ONE person or a small group of people can not remove anyone from the Republican party ballot without clear evidence that the large group of elected members of the Alabama Republican Steering committee hears and votes by majority that the candidates should be removed. A lot of people don't like this but this is the open Republican Party process. There's nothing secretive about it as the same process and bylaws have been in place. I don't know the official reasons anyone was removed from the ballot," she continued.
Mancuso, who was denied ballot access, was challenging State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough (R-Trinity); the two have traded barbs publicly about the challenge, with Yarbrough posting a lengthy social media post on Friday.
Algert Agricola, Jr. represented Battles in the challenge and wrote a letter to the committee outlining his case, most notably arguing that Battles' work with a Democratic candidate fell outside the six-year window for consideration by the party.
The primary election will be held on May 19.
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