KY-3: Martin’s candidacy as Libertarian stands after court challenge

Businessman Ed Martin will be on November’s general election ballots in the 3rd Congressional District race, as a motion to dismiss the challenge to his candidacy was successful, Martin tells PolitickerKY.com.

“This is my Inherit the Wind moment,” Martin told PolitickerKY.com this morning, referencing the classic film. “It was the layperson trying to fight for my first and 14th Amendment rights.”

Martin’s candidacy as a Libertarian was challenged by Jefferson County Republican Party Chair Brad Cummings on the grounds that Martin was still a registered Republican. Cummings’ challenge was dismissed this morning.

Libertarian Party of Kentucky Chair Ken Moellman said the motion to dismiss the challenge was based on four grounds, including constitutional arguments and challenges to the legal definition of third parties in state law books.

Moellman said the defeat of the challenge should mean Martin has secured ballot access.

“I don’t think they can do anything now,” he said.

Martin now says he will begin his campaign in earnest, attempting to rally support for his third-party bid against U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) and former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R-Louisville). Martin said he essentially suspended his campaign when his candidacy was in doubt, so as to not draw support that would not be relevant should he lose ballot access.

Now he says he will run a campaign, but he acknowledges the odds are stacked against him given the experience and campaign war-chests of the Republican and Democratic candidates.

“Granted, I’m running on principle and not on mega-budgets like the other guys,” said Martin.

“Winning an election is going to be a whole lot more difficult than winning in court,” said Martin.

He expressed surprise that he was ever challenged in the first place, noting he was running a low-resource campaign.

“They have millions and I have two boxes of t-shirts, yet they fear me, I presume,” said Martin.