Dabney says he will fight on after kicked off Dem primary

Aurora businessman Corey Dabney says he will fight to get back on the ballot in the Senate Democratic primary.

Dabney was kicked off the primary ballot Thursday by the state board of elections commission after a challenge to his petitions whittled down the final tally of valid signatures to about 3,000, far below the required 5,000.

Dabney said Friday he plans to take it to state court, arguing the petition objector shouldn't have been able to challenge so many signatures at once. Dabney contends the accuracy of nearly all his signatures were challenged without enough evidence to support they should be in question.

"We are keeping this campaign alive," Dabney said. "We are continuing to make the appointments and interviews and campaign actively because I'm confident we are going to be successful."

Candidates who remain on the Feb. 2 ballot for the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate include former Chicago Inspector General David Hoffman, Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias of Chicago, Chicago businessman Jacob Meister, Burr Ridge radiologist Robert Marshall and Chicago Urban League CEO Cheryle Jackson.