Trump-endorsed candidate loses primary after court ruling

The Indiana Supreme Court has declared state Senator Spencer Deery the winner of a Republican primary over a challenger endorsed by President Donald Trump.

The court’s decision on Thursday came after attorneys for Deery and Trump-backed Paula Copenhaver argued the case in front of the court’s five justices.

In a one-page ruling, the court said the majority of justices had voted to overturn the Indiana Recount Commission’s decision that had certified Copenhaver as the winner of the May primary.

“Election preparations for District 23 shall resume using candidate Spencer R. Deery’s name on the ballot as the Republican candidate for Senate District 23,” it said.

The court’s decision ends a months long legal fight to determine the winner of the primary in Indiana’s 23rd Senate district. And it’s a blow to Trump, who had sought to oust Deery and other state senators who defied White House pressure and rejected his push to redraw Indiana’s congressional maps to favor Republcians. However, Trump’s endorsements of primary challengers and spending by pro-Trump groups led to the ousting of all but two of the state senators that the president targeted, the IndyStar reported.

The initial count following the May 5 primary ended with Deery just three votes ahead of Copenhaver. In August, the three-member Indiana Recount Commission disallowed six ballots cast for Deery that lacked a county clerk’s stamp or signature, giving Copenhaver the win by three voters.

Deery filed a challenge in court, and the Indiana Supreme Court’s ruling on Thursday vacated the commission’s decision to disallow those ballots.

The court’s order did not explain the decision, but said the court would issue a written opinion explaining its reasons at a later date.

“I am so proud to be a Hoosier and am obviously very pleased by the Indiana Supreme Court’s decision today, but this case was bigger than any of us who were involved with it,” Deery, a first-term senator, said on X.

“We could never have secure elections in our state if our votes could be invalidated by government error or malfeasance. Instead, in Indiana, we have set a precedent that says if you do everything right, your right to vote is sacred and protected.”

Copenhaver told reporters on Thursday that she disagrees with the court’s decision, which she said could mean inauthentic ballots could be counted.

“The last step in this Republican primary nominating process was ended by the Indiana Supreme Court reversing the Indiana Recount Commission’s decision to count absentee ballots which lacked statutorily required markers of authenticity,” Copenhaver said, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

“While I disagree with the Court’s decision, which leaves open the potential of inauthentic ballots to be counted, I respect the Court’s right to their opinion. I wish Senator Deery all the best, and pray he delivers for District 23.”

This is a developing story. More to follow.