Onondaga County Democratic Committee member Diane Dwire made a general objection last week to the petitions collected by Democrat Juanita Perez Williams in the race for the 24th congressional district.
Perez Williams is challenging the designated Democratic candidate Dana Balter, after entering the race less the two weeks before the petitions were due.
Onondaga County Democratic Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny said it is typical that campaigns will file general objections to their opponents' petitions, but it is difficult to get someone knocked off the ballot.
“They have to have done something pretty wrong like not going door-to-door or standing on SU campus or getting people that were not registered to vote to pass your petitions,” Czarny said.
Perez Williams got more than double the required 1,250 signatures she needed to be on the Democratic primary ballot. But Czarny said there could be some concerns.
“She did start awful late," Czarny said. "If other people signed Dana Balter’s petitions first, which she had over 8,000 signatures, there could be a lot of people that signed hers first, and then signed Juanita’s and those will be thrown out.”
Specific objections to signatures are due today. Separate objections to Balter’s petitions have also been filed. The New York State Board of Elections meets on May 3 and would vote on whether the petitions are upheld or not.
"Until the petitions are verified by the state board, we don't know whether there will be a primary," Czarny said. "Up until April 2, I think most Democrats in the area thought there was not going to be a primary. This is all still something that we're wrestling with."
The winner of a Democratic primary election on June 26 would take on Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) in November.
Onondaga County Democratic Committee Chair Mark English said he hopes the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will offer their full support to whoever their candidate is in the race for the 24th Congressional District.
Perez Williams entered the race with the blessing of Democratic party leaders in Washington, and last week was named to the DCCC's "Red to Blue" program, which gives top tier candidates more organizational and fundraising support.
