Chibu Asonye, a Green Party candidate running for Congress in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District, did not qualify for the ballot after failing to gather enough signatures, the Illinois State Board of Elections announced on Friday. Asonye collected 1,557 signatures, well short of the 12,710 required by state law. This puts her out of the race against Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski and Republican challenger Joshua Loyd.
A Springfield resident initially challenged Asonye’s signatures in July, leading to the board’s decision. Asonye has filed as a write-in candidate, criticizing what she calls efforts by Democratic affiliates to sideline her. This comes as Democrats hold a slim advantage in the 13th District, which was redrawn in 2021 to favor the party.
With Asonye off the ballot, the race is now solely between Budzinski and Loyd for the November 5 general election. Asonye’s absence may benefit Budzinski, who won her seat by a comfortable margin in the past. However, Asonye’s exclusion means that more liberal voters who might have leaned towards the Green Party candidate will now have to choose between the major party candidates.
Despite the setback, Asonye’s campaign remains undeterred and determined to continue advocating for the issues important to Illinois voters. The Green Party candidate’s exclusion from the ballot underscores the challenges faced by third-party candidates in gaining visibility and representation in the political arena.
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