Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate faces lawsuit to be removed from ballot
GOP nominee sues secretary of state, candidate, claiming unlawful nomination
BEND, Ore (KTVZ) -- Cody Boswell of Bend served in the U.S. Marine Corps for over 20 years.
He said after Tuesday night's presidential debate, he followed reaction on social media and noticed a lot of people who are not happy with either of the two major party choices.
He explained how he feels the same frustration.
"I feel this is that tipping point where we as the American public need to let the political leaders know you know you're just not
representing our values any more," Boswell said.
He explained that the candidates have become too polarized: "You've gone way to far to the right or you've gone way to far to the left."
Cody said he's curious to know how many voters would be interested in somebody else, citing both write-in and third party candidates.
And he might not be the only person wondering that.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jo Rae Perkins recently sued the secretary of state and Libertarian Senate candidate Gary Dye, seeking to remove Dye from the ballot.
In court documents, she stated that Dye wasn't lawfully nominated because a nearly decade-long fight between Libertarian factions means Dye was not legally nominated by the party.
In her complaint, the GOP candidate stated, "As a candidate with considerable history and experience in Oregon politics, I am of the informed opinion that it is obvious that Mr. Dye's presence in the race will tend to take votes I would otherwise get."
The candidate explained what she was seeking: "I have no remedy for his unlawful participation in the race other than a ruling from this court that requires the secretary of state to remove him."
Ultimately, the Marion County Circuit Court judge denied the motion to remove Dye from the ballot, but the issue is still under review, according to Dye.
"So some time in the future -- a week from now, a month from now, after the election , I don't know -- it's quite possible that the judge could look at the merits of the other side's lawsuit and say, 'Okay, well, he's right,'" Dye said.
It's a move that Boswell said would set a dangerous precedent.
"Seeing how truly despicable it could be, with voter suppression and how systems can be rigged for a people, and there's no representation of the people, I'm very, very wary of anything where it takes away our rights to choose,"" he said.
Boswell said he has seen such examples in his time in the service, touring various parts of the world.
