Updated: Olympian Carl Lewis seeks ruling on NJ candidacy
Update: The federal judge won’t rule yet on whether Lewis can run in the November election, but says a decision will be made before the Sept. 8 ballot submission deadline.
Original post: Nine-time Olympic gold medal winner Carl Lewis is trying to stay in the race for state Senate in New Jersey.
The 50-year-old will be back in federal court today, after New Jersey’s chief elections official didn’t certify him as a candidate in the November election.
Lewis wants to run as a Democrat in the 8th legislative district. Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno says he does not meet the state’s four-year residency requirement.
Lewis believes Gov. Chris Christie is orchestrating the party’s effort to keep him off the ballot. Christie says the track icon should have been a resident for four years before declaring his candidacy.
Lewis grew up in New Jersey. He maintains homes here and in California. He voted there through 2009
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