Ousted Senate hopeful considers next move

AUGUSTA – A day after being removed from Maine’s ballot by a state supreme court ruling, independent U.S. Senate candidate Herbert Hoffman says he’s considering taking his ballot access case to the federal level.

Hoffman of Ogunquit says his case would focus on due process and other constitutional concerns.

On Monday, the supreme court ruled that a single faulty signature could invalidate a whole page of a candidate’s nominating petition. In effect, that removes Hoffman’s name from November’s ballot.

In a statement Tuesday, Hoffman says his campaign gathered nomination signatures honestly and fairly. He says the supreme court denied his right to ballot access and denied the constitutional rights of all the voters to petition their government.

Hoffman says his campaign continues to organize, raise funds and campaign.