David Lawrence v. J. Kenneth Blackwell, Secretary, State of Ohio

OPINION

McKEAGUE, Circuit Judge.

Plaintiffs challenge an Ohio election statute which requires independent congres sional candidates to file a statement of candidacy and nominating petition with a minimum number of signatures by the day before the primary election. The district court denied injunctive relief and granted Defendants’ motions to dismiss. Plaintiffs argue on appeal that the district court erred because Ohio’s early filing deadline violates their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm the judgment of the district court.

I. BACKGROUND

Ohio law…