McDaniel Challenge Expected to be Filed Thursday

BY EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. — A campaign spokesman says Chris McDaniel will file a lawsuit Thursday to challenge his Republican primary loss to six-term Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran.

Spokesman Noel Fritsch said Wednesday the circuit court lawsuit will be filed in McDaniel’s home of Jones County.

The Mississippi Supreme Court will appoint a special judge to handle the case.

Certified results of the June 24 runoff show Cochran defeated McDaniel by 7,667 votes.

McDaniel on Aug. 4 asked the state Republican executive committee to declare him the winner because he said his campaign found about 3,500 people who voted in the June 3 Democratic primary and June 24 Republican runoff. State election officials say such crossover voting is banned. He said it also found about 9,500 “irregular” votes.

The party declined to consider the challenge.