Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin has notified the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that he plans to challenge a federal judge’s decision last week denying his constitutional claims against ranked-choice voting and validating Democrat Jared Golden’s victory.
Poliquin’s filing with the 1st Circuit appellate court comes within the 30-day deadline to appeal U.S. District Court Judge Lance Walker’s ruling from last week.
He is asking for emergency relief from Walker’s ruling, but he had not provided grounds for the request as of Monday evening.
Statement from Congressman Bruce Poliquin in advance of tomrrow's formal Appeal brief filing.#me02 #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/KiFZt4T6qv
— Bruce Poliquin (@BrucePoliquin) December 18, 2018
The appellate court is expected to issue a schedule for written arguments in the coming weeks.
Poliquin halted his recount of the 2nd Congressional District race last week.
Golden's communications director, Aisha Woodward, issued a statement late Monday, saying that Judge Walker's decision was "crystal clear and is the best response to Bruce Poliquin's appeal. Right now Congressman-elect Golden is one hundred percent focused on preparing to get to work on January 3rd to do the job that the voters of the Second District elected him to do."
Golden’s victory is expected to be certified by the secretary of state soon.
Updated Dec. 18, 2018 at 6:11 a.m. ET.
