Florida: hearing set for 5 December in Demo primary suit
NBC12 First Coast News reports: U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle set an expedited Dec. 5 hearing Thursday for a suit filed by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Alcee Hastings, seeking to make their national party recognize the Florida delegation at the Democratic National Convention next summer.
The DNC stripped Florida of its 210 delegate votes because the Legislature moved the state's presidential-primary date from early March to Jan. 29 -- a week ahead of the date permitted by party rules. All major Democratic candidates for president have pledged not to campaign in states defying the national party's plan that lets only Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada allocate their delegates before Feb. 5.
Contending that the party's action violates the voting rights of millions of Floridians, Nelson and Hastings asked the federal district court in Tallahassee to make the DNC rescind its sanctions against the state. ...
The DNC responded to the original suit on Tuesday, saying it did not act as a government entity and that parties have a right to enforce rules that were agreed to by state parties when the primary schedule was set. -- Florida - Florida Delegates May Count at the DNC