JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi judge has dismissed a lawsuit that seeks to overturn Sen. Thad Cochran's victory in a Republican primary runoff.
Judge Hollis McGehee said Friday that state Sen. Chris McDaniel, who lost to Cochran, failed to start the election challenge on time.
McDaniel is expected to appeal McGehee's ruling to the Mississippi Supreme Court.
McGehee issued his ruling Friday in Gulfport, a day after hearing arguments in Laurel about the timing of McDaniel's lawsuit.
The judge agreed with Cochran attorneys. They cited a 1959 Mississippi Supreme Court ruling that said an election challenge must begin within 20 days of the election. McDaniel waited more than a month.
McDaniel's lawsuit claims irregularities spoiled the June 24 runoff. It asks the judge to declare McDaniel the winner or order a new runoff.
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