Lawsuit challenges Florida Democratic Party nixing Dean Phillips on primary ballot

Florida Democratic Party is being sued for only recognizing President Biden as a candidate for the state’s 2024 Democratic primary, which was canceled because there was only one candidate.

The federal lawsuit, filed by Michael Steinberg, a Tampa lawyer who has previously run for office, claimed that his constitutional rights as a voter were violated by the state Democratic Party’s decision to leave White House hopeful Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota off the ballot.

Secretary of State Cord Byrd is also a defendant in the case.

“Were the court to deny relief, a grave inequity would result because only President Joseph Biden would have gained access to the ballot by unconstitutional means,” Mr. Steinberg said in the lawsuit.

He also said that the Florida Democrats “cannot dispute” the notability of Mr. Phillips.

“He has appeared on numerous television news programs and his candidacy has been discussed by multiple media sources including television, print and social media,” the lawsuit said. “The Florida Democratic Party cannot dispute the Democratic Party credentials of Congressman Dean Phillips. His platform is consistent with the platform of the Democratic Party, he is currently a member of Congress, and has mostly supported the position of President Joe Biden.”

Mr. Phillips announced challenges last week against the Democratic National Committee and state parties for keeping him off the ballot in Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee.

“Unilaterally taking away the right of rank and file Democrats, including a disproportionate number of Black voters demanding a more affordable America, is reprehensible,” Mr. Phillips said in a statement to the news site Semafor. “If Joe Biden is the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump and lead us to a safer, more affordable future, let him compete for that privilege without his supporters suppressing and disenfranchising millions of voters.”

Florida Democrats canceled the March primary since only Mr. Biden was approved as a candidate, denying Mr. Phillips, Marianne Williamson and other Democrats a shot at winning the state’s delegates to the party convention in Chicago.

Florida Democratic Chair Nikki Fried said that ahead of the state convention in October, they had not heard from Mr. Phillips or the other candidates.

“Americans would expect the absence of democracy in Tehran, not Tallahassee,” Mr. Phillips wrote on X. “The Florida Democratic Party’s intentional disenfranchisement of voters runs counter to everything for which our Democratic Party and country stand. Our mission as Democrats is to defeat authoritarians, not become them.”

Ms. Fried responded by saying the party followed its “standard process” that is outlined on its website.

“We are dismayed by Dean Phillps’ conspiratorial and inappropriate comments comparing the state of Florida to the Iranian regime as part of his knee-jerk reaction to long-established procedures,” Ms. Fried said to Politico. “This is unbecoming of someone running for higher office.”

In a statement Monday, the Florida Democratic Party wrote that the process to be on the Florida Democratic primary ballot states that the deadline to submit nominations for the ballot must be submitted to the secretary of state by Nov. 30, 2023.

However, the party’s Executive Office voted to only send Mr. Biden’s name on Oct. 29, just two days after Mr. Phillips announced his campaign. Florida Democrats sent a notice on Nov. 1 that had Mr. Biden as the only candidate.

“The Florida Democratic Party followed its process and the State Executive Committee voted unanimously to send one name, Joe Biden, to the Secretary of State as a candidate for the party’s nomination for president. It is not uncommon for an incumbent President to be declared the automatic winner of a presidential primary. In 2011, Florida Democrats similarly voted unanimously for incumbent President Barack Obama,” the statement said.

“The Florida Democratic Party stands by the decision made by the State Executive Committee and does not intend to circumvent long-established protocols and procedures for candidates who did not receive nominations.”