(The Center Square) – Georgia Public Service Commission candidate Daniel Blackman said Thursday he is appealing a decision to remove him from the June primary ballot.
Blackman was vying for the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican incumbent Fritz Johnson for the District 3 seat in November.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger disqualified Blackman on Wednesday, the day after early voting began, after a challenge to Blackman’s residency in District 3.
“While I respectfully disagree with the ruling, I want to be clear: I am not stepping away,” Blackman said in a statement posted on his campaign page. “My team is appealing the decision, and I will remain fully committed to the fight for energy justice and public accountability in Georgia. The fact that a decision to remove me was made during early voting only underscores what many of us already know: this race matters.”
Democrats Peter Hubbard, Robert Jones and Keisha Sean Waites are on the District 3 ballot for the June 17 primary.
Republican Tim Echols, representing District 2, has a primary challenger in Lee Muns. Alicia Johnson is the lone Democrat in the primary.
The commissioners must live in their district, but all Georgia eligible voters participate in the election.
Early voting began Tuesday and ends on June 13.
The Center Square was unsuccessful prior to publication getting comment from the secretary of state’s office.
