In a recent development, a federal judge has denied a request to mandate a Democratic presidential primary in Florida, dismissing a challenge from Tampa attorney Michael Steinberg. The lawsuit aimed to compel the inclusion of candidates beyond President Joe Biden, who was the sole certified candidate submitted to state election officials. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), a challenger to Biden, criticized the decision, labeling it as “intentional disenfranchisement.”
Steinberg contended that the party’s decision violated the constitution and likened it to past discriminatory practices. The attorney specifically sought to include Phillips, spiritual author Marianne Williamson, and progressive commentator Cenk Uygur in the primary.
U.S. District Court Judge Allen Winsor, who held a hearing on January 10, rejected Steinberg’s request for a preliminary injunction, stating that the attorney was unlikely to succeed on the merits of the case. Steinberg, acting independently and unaffiliated with any campaign, intends to appeal the decision and expressed a willingness to take the case to the Supreme Court if necessary.
The dispute arose when the Florida Democratic Party, at its annual convention in Orlando, decided to submit only Biden’s name to state election officials, effectively canceling the Democratic primary. This move, initially unnoticed, drew attention close to the November 30 deadline for submitting primary candidates.
Under Florida law, state parties have the authority to determine which candidates appear on the presidential primary ballot. Phillips, who initiated his presidential bid in October, faces an uphill battle after the party’s decision.
Florida’s primary, scheduled for March 19, falls behind Super Tuesday and other significant states, with an allocation of 250 delegates. The legal challenge, though specific to this primary, raises broader questions about the democratic process within party decision-making.
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