Rep. Nima Kulkarni, D-Louisville, (LRC Public Information)
The Louisville Democratic Party has nominated Rep. Nima Kulkarni to run for reelection as a challenge seeking to remove her from the ballot has been withdrawn.
After the state Supreme Court disqualified Kulkarni from the primary election because of problems in her filing papers, Secretary of State Michael Adams declared a vacancy in the nomination process and invited both parties to choose candidates for the November ballot.
Still standing in Kulkarni’s way was a lawsuit by Dennis Horlander, a Democrat who previously represented the 40th House District.
On Sunday, Horlander’s attorney, Steven Megerle filed a motion to withdraw his challenge from Jefferson County Circuit Court.
James Craig, an attorney representing Kulkarni, said that should be the conclusion of the matter and called it “not only a win for Rep. Kulkarni, but it is a win for the voters.”
“Their intent has been clear throughout this process,” Craig said. “She was nominated by nearly 80% of her district, and she (was) chosen again by her party last Friday.”
Kulkarni is seeking a fourth term in office. She previously defeated Horlander in the 2018 and 2020 Democratic primaries for the 40th House District. According to the unofficial votes from this year’s May primary, she received 78% of votes over another Democratic candidate, William Zeitz. No Republicans filed for the primary election.
Horlander’s withdrawn motions included disqualifying Kulkarni as an eligible candidate for the nomination process and certifying Zeitz as the winner of the primary election.
Late last month, the Kentucky Supreme Court expanded on its decision to disqualify Kulkarni from the primary ballot and direct next steps in the nomination process. After Adams declared the vacancy, local parties were able to nominate candidates for the general election.
A spokesperson for the Louisville Republican Party did not return an emailed request about the party’s nomination Tuesday morning. The deadline for candidates to file is Monday at 4 p.m. Kulkarni filed her candidacy Tuesday morning with the Secretary of State’s office.
It’s unclear if Horlander will continue his legal challenge against Kulkarni.
The deadline to print ballots for the general election is Sept. 16.