Rapid City man weighing legal action in fight to make General Election ballot
Justin McNeal sought placement in this year's congressional race
A Rapid City man is planning to take legal action after learning that his petitions to run for Congress have been rejected by the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office.
Justin McNeal said he is seeking legal counsel to bring a challenge in Pierre. Rachel Soulek, the state’s director of elections, confirmed to The Dakota Scout Monday that the office rejected McNeal’s petitions after a random sample concluded there were not enough valid signatures.
It’s the second time McNeal has been denied a place on the ballot to run for Congress. The 40-year-old Navy veteran had sought placement on the June primary ballot as a Republican to challenge Rep. Dusty Johnson. But he missed the number of signatures deemed valid by the Secretary of State’s Office by 38.
This time, he was seeking placement on the General Election ballot as an independent. Besides Johnson in the race, Democrat Sheryl Johnson is also running for Congress.
