Cambensy responds to challenges to petition signatures for 38th Senate Candidacy

UPPER MICHIGAN. (WLUC) - Independent 38th State Senate Candidate Sara Cambensy responded to challenges to her campaign Friday.

Cambensy’s campaign team sent a release saying it was alerted by the Michigan Bureau of Elections that her qualifying petitions had been challenged, attributing it to the Marquette County Democratic Party and the Michigan Democratic Party.

The challenge, however, which Cambensy’s campaign manager Jason Chapman sent to TV6 with the release, shows that it was filed by an individual resident named Linda Donckers on July 23.

Bobby Antilla (who is listed as 1st Vice Chair for the Marquette County Democratic Party and as a regional political specialist for the Michigan Dems’ Project 83 team) notarized the complaint and the affidavits. The Marquette County Democratic Party and the Michigan Democratic Party both called TV6 Friday afternoon to clarify that his notarization of those documents does not mean he or the parties he is affiliated with filed the complaint, as claimed.

In a statement to us, Marquette County Democratic Party Chair Jennifer Figler says:

“We are aware of Ms Cambensy’s allegations that the Marquette County Democratic Party submitted a challenge to her petitions. The challenger is an individual citizen in Marquette County, not a member of the Democratic Party. The concerns in the challenge are a serious matter for the Board of Canvassers to investigate. Ms. Cambensy’s statement spends more time making erroneous accusations than addressing the concerns in the challenge.”

The challenge itself alleges a portion of Cambensy’s qualifying petition signatures were “defective.” It additionally claims Cambensy’s and Chapman’s signatures as petition circulators were forged on multiple petition sheets. The challenge alleges Cambensy would not have the 1,500 signatures necessary to qualify for appearance on the ballot if these petitions and signatures were invalidated.

In a formal rebuttal submitted to the Michigan Bureau of Elections (MBE) on July 30, Cambensy addressed these claims. Regarding the allegation of defective or invalid signatures, she writes:

“My campaign counted 2,349 signatures, exceeding the 1,500 minimum by 848... The challenger claims they found 268 invalid signatures... After reviewing each of those signature challenges, we maintain that 83 of those invalid signature claims should be considered valid.”

In supporting the claims of forged circulator signatures from Cambensy, the challengers include signed affidavits from residents of the 38th State Senate District. Those affidavits attest that Cambensy did not circulate the petitions they signed, despite her signing them as such.

Cambensy also refutes the affidavits in her rebuttal to the MBE, saying she obtained them in person at the Third Base Bar in Marquette while within feet of those who provided their signatures.

Meanwhile, the challengers claim Chapman’s signature appears in “a variety of signature styles,” saying that is “indicative of forgery of his name.”

Chapman also responded to those claims in a separate rebuttal to the MBE. He writes, “My signature does vary depending on several factors, including what surface I’m writing on, the angle I’m writing on, how quickly I’m signing my name, and if my hand is shaking that day.”

Finally, the complaint alleges Chapman is a long-time member of the Michigan Democratic Party and that Cambensy, as an independent candidate, “cannot rely on the assistance of partisans.” It says Chapman’s petitions must be rejected on that basis.

In response to that argument, Cambensy says the challengers do not provide evidence to support the claim. Further, in relation to this particular challenge, Cambensy said in a prepared release, “They simply want to deny voters the opportunity to break the grip of the two major parties have on Michigan politics, and they are bothered that I continue to have support with many unions and Democratic voters as an independent candidate.”

Chapman said the Michigan Bureau of Elections is expected to make a decision regarding this challenge by the Aug. 14 Board of Canvassers meeting.

The Michigan Primary is Aug. 4.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 4:40 p.m. ET Friday to include clarifying information that the challenge was not filed by the Marquette County Democratic Party, but an individual resident.