Illinois challenge to Trump’s candidacy won’t be delayed, Cook County judge rules

A Cook County judge Wednesday denied a bid by former Republican President Donald Trump to stall an objection to his candidacy in Illinois until after the U.S. Supreme Court rules whether he is constitutionally eligible to seek reelection.

A group of five voters and a national voting rights group lodged an objection to Trump’s Illinois nominating petitions on grounds that he should be barred as a candidate under a prohibition in the 14th Amendment that prohibits insurrectionists from seeking public office.

Judge Tracie Porter also denied a bid by the objectors to put their case against Trump on a fast track toward the Democratic-controlled Illinois Supreme Court, instead setting another hearing on the election dispute for Feb. 16. She said the hearing on the merits of the challenge will be held in person at the Daley Center.

This report was published in partnership with the Chicago Sun-Times. For more, visit chicago.suntimes.com.