John Rust, who was denied access to Indiana’s GOP primary ballot earlier this year, has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking a review of the state high court’s decision that prevented his candidacy. Rust argues that Indiana’s ballot access laws are uniquely harsh and cater to political party bosses, disenfranchising voters. His petition asserts that the Supreme Court’s test for assessing ballot access issues needs to be revisited and clarified.
Rust’s appeal comes after the Indiana Election Division unanimously blocked his Republican candidacy due to a state law that requires a candidate’s last two primary votes to align with their preferred party. Rust, an egg farmer from Seymour, had voted Republican in 2016 and Democrat in 2012, making him ineligible under the law.
Rust’s petition argues that the Indiana Supreme Court’s decision denies voters choices on the primary ballot and restricts potential candidates’ freedom of association. He maintains that the state’s party affiliation statute hinders voters from changing party allegiance and voting their consciences.
If the U.S. Supreme Court accepts the case, oral arguments would likely be heard in early next year. Rust has vowed to appeal all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, asserting his right to freely associate with the Republican Party. Despite closing his Senate campaign, Rust continues to fight for ballot access and the right for Hoosiers to run under their preferred party.
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