Last-ditch Lamborn lawsuit to stay on ballot moves forward as judge denies opponents' request to intervene

A federal judge has declined to intervene in a motion to keep Rep. Doug Lamborn off the GOP primary ballot.

The saga around the long-time representative began with a judge's decision in early April that would allow him to stay on the party's ballot. The ruling was in response to a lawsuit that challenged the validity of voter signatures Lamborn's campaign used to petition onto the June 26 primary.

Then last week, the Colorado Supreme Court overturned that ruling and ordered Lamborn's name removed from the ballot. The court ruled that Lamborn's re-election campaign didn't collect enough valid voter signatures to make the party's June 26 primary.

Lamborn filed a lawsuit two days later, contesting that the law is unconstitutional and asking to keep his name on the ballot until the issue is resolved.

"We believe that the part of Colorado law that requires petition gatherers to be residents of the state is manifestly unconstitutional, and controlling case decisions here in Colorado and courts around the country have agreed with that assessment," his campaign office said in a statement. "Citizens who either signed the petitions for Congressman Lamborn or who plan to vote in the 5th District in the Republican primary should not be deprived of their rights by an unconstitutional election law. We are also seeking to keep Congressman Lamborn's name on the ballot while this matter is decided."

That same day, Lamborn's primary opponents, Owen Hill and four other Republicans, filed a motion to intervene in Lamborn's lawsuit. In a statement, the group called it a "pity" that Lamborn was refusing to accept the ruling of the state Supreme Court, "who has the final say in the interpretation and application of state election law."

"This group has a vested interest in upholding the law as it clearly complies with the US Constitution and will vigorously work to defend the state statutes in question," the statement reads in part. "... We sincerely wish that one who is charged with writing and passing laws would have more respect for the laws of our state."

Monday, a judge declined their motion. The group of Republicans immediately filed a motion to reconsider, asking the judge to change his mind.

That motion was also denied.

An emergency appeal has been filed by Hill and the others in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, while a hearing over Lamborn's suit went forward as planned Monday morning.