The Commonwealth Court has rejected an appeal objecting to the addition of incumbent
Republican State Rep. Chris Ross to the ballot for the 158th District House race. Ross replaces former candidate Cuyler Walker, who unexpectedly withdrew from the election in September.
Ross had announced plans to retire from serving the district at the end of the year, but those plans got overturned with Walker's resignation. An emergency Republican committee meeting voted 31 to 13 to name Ross the replacement candidate on Sept. 28, and Ross filed his paperwork the next day.
In response to the decisions, Philadelphia election attorney Adam Bonin filed a suit with the Commonwealth Court on behalf of three Democrats and three Republicans residing in the district, located in Chester County.
The complaint said that Ross’s addition to the ballot occurred too late in the election cycle and exceeded the state-mandated deadline to fill vacancies from withdrawals of 75 days or more before Election Day on Nov. 4. The Commonwealth Court denied the claim, saying that Ross met the court mandate deadline.
Ross served the district for nine terms and faces Democratic challenger Susan Rzucidlo on Election Day.
Commonwealth Court rules Ross can remain on ballot
