For Immediate Release: Feb. 27, 2024
The Dearborn County Republican Party Issued the Following Statement on County Party Chairman Mark Dole’s Decision to Challenge the Candidacy of Multiple Primary Filings
LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. (Feb. 27, 2024) – On February 20th, 2024, 13 candidates who filed to appear on the Republican Primary ballot were challenged by our Dearborn County Republican Party Chairman, Mark Dole. The challenges caused some misunderstanding, conflict and a call for clarity. And understandably so. Why? Because, like all of those currently serving in our Party, many feel compelled to step up and serve our communities. They want to ensure that their elected representatives reflect their values, the values of their neighbors and our Party. We TRUST that these are all good folks, who have similar, deeply held beliefs as we do. We TRUST that they are Republicans wishing to represent the Republican Party appropriately. And we TRUST they would represent us all with a good conscience and dignity. Because, TRUST, is a value we all share.
Most Republicans would agree that in the last few years, the security of our elections has been under attack – at least at the national level. Indiana Code and Party Rules requires that we do more than trust – we must VERIFY.
For Republican Party Offices (Precinct Committeeman and Delegates) Indiana Code 3-8-1-32 provides that the requirements are set by Party rules.
“IC 3-8-1-32 Precinct committeeman; delegate to state convention
Sec. 32. A candidate for:
(1) precinct committeeman; or
(2) delegate to a state convention;
of a political party in the state whose nominee received at least ten percent (10%) of the total vote cast for secretary of state at the last election must comply with any candidate requirement set by state party rules.”
State Party Rules:
Our state party rules state that an individual must have voted Republican at the most recent two
(2) primaries in which the voter voted OR obtain an authorization from the County Chairman in
order to be eligible for election as a precinct committeeman and/or delegate. See Rule 3-3 for
precinct committeeman qualifications:
“Rule 3-3. No person shall be eligible for election for the office of precinct committeeman or the appointment to the office of Precinct Committeeman or Vice-Precinct Committeeman unless the individual:
(1) is a Qualified Elector of the precinct (if elected) or a Qualified Elector of the county (if appointed); and
(2) is a Qualified Primary Republican; or
(3) he/she obtains an authorization form signed by the County Chairman and the candidate for committeeman saying the individual pledges full support to the Republican Party and the candidates of the Republican Party. This form (IRSC/CA-1)6 shall be attached to the back of the CAN-37 when the candidate files his/her declaration with the county clerk, or county election board as appropriate for the county. The County Chairman shall also Communicate a copy of this form to the State Secretary.”
“Qualified Primary Republican” is defined in Rule 1-24 as a voter who cast Republican Party
ballot at the two (2) most recent primary elections in Indiana which the voter voted and who is a
Republican in Good-Standing.
In Dearborn County – all declarations of candidacy forms are filed with the Clerk, not the Election Board. The Election Board oversees the presentation of challenges at the election board hearing. This hearing is NOT where CAN-37 forms, and supporting documentation if necessary from the Party Chairman, are submitted. The Party Chairman CANNOT, and should not, certify a candidate after the filing deadline.
Chairman Dole applied the Indiana Code equally to every candidate who filed to run for office in Dearborn County to appear on the Republican Primary ballot – as he is duty bound to do. More than 100 candidates filed, some for more than one position. Of those, 13 candidates were challenged due to not meeting the two-primary rule requirement and not having the Party Chairman authorization form attached to their CAN-37 forms.
None of the Precinct Committeeman or Delegate candidates challenged on February 20, 2024 met the objective two primary test laid out by state law and Party Rules, and in fact, multiple candidates had voted Democrat at least once in their most recent two primary election votes.
Additionally, none of the PC and Delegate candidates challenged by Chairman Dole requested his authorization as required by state law and Party Rules or reached out to the Party Chair at all before the filing deadline. Furthermore, nearly all the candidates challenged waited until the final 24 hours prior to the filing deadline before filing their candidacy – not providing sufficient time for the Chairman to proactively reach out and certify them.
Our goal is to grow the ideals, values and conservative foundation that our Republican Party represents and upon which we stand– in our Community, County, State and Nation. We have room for all who espouse our core beliefs and deeply held values. But in order to ensure free, fair and safe elections – we must follow Indiana Code and Party Rules to determine who may appear on the Republican Primary ballot. It is our duty to ensure that when a voter walks into the Primary and requests a Republican ballot, each and every candidate listed on that ballot meets the qualifications set forth by our Indiana Code and Party rules. Please vote in the Primary. Please get involved with the Party – locally, statewide and/or nationally – especially if you have any interest in running for office.
We stand with our County Chairman Mark Dole and appreciate his commitment to fulfilling his duties as our Party Chairman.
Respectfully, and welcoming participation in our Party,
The Dearborn County Republican Party