Six-term U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley qualified for the Republican primary ballot today after submitting more than 20,000 signatures to the Iowa Secretary of State’s office on Friday. But Grassley’s would-be GOP challenger Robert Rees is struggling to meet the March 18 deadline to submit at least 3,331 valid signatures from at least ten Iowa counties. In an e-mail blast on Saturday, Rees asserted, “part of the reason we’ve had a tough time getting the signatures required is because the establishment doesn’t want me on the ballot.”

Record-breaking attendance at this year’s Republican caucuses created good opportunities for GOP candidates to put their nominating papers in front of activists around the state. However, Rees asserted in the e-mail (enclosed in full below) that only eight of the 99 GOP county chairs helped his campaign collect signatures on caucus night. His campaign sent petition forms to the 30 largest counties ahead of this weekend’s county conventions, but “Early on in the day on March 12th, we were being told that some counties were dissuading people from signing them and some didn’t put them out at all!” Rees then described and refuted “some new arguments” being used to justify denying him ballot access. Rees has been working hard in recent weeks to collect signatures–reaching out to voters at the girls state high school basketball tournament, for instance. But as of yesterday, his campaign still needed well over a thousand signatures to reach its goal. (Candidates typically submit far more than the minimum number, in case some signatures turn out to be invalid.)

If Rees ends up on the ballot for the June primary, I doubt he would receive even the 16.8 percent of the vote Tom Hoefling got in his bid for the 2014 gubernatorial nomination against Terry Branstad. It’s interesting that GOP leaders are actively working against his efforts to qualify for the primary, though. I guess they don’t want someone traveling the state for the next two and a half months telling voters that Grassley has been in office too long.

March 12 e-mail blast from the Robert Rees campaign. Subject heading: “GOP Leadership Doesn’t Want Me On The Ballot”

We need your help more than ever. We have until Friday at 5pm to turn in enough signatures to get on the ballot.

Unfortunately, it is clear now that part of the reason we’ve had a tough time getting the signatures required is because the establishment doesn’t want me on the ballot.

It began with my announcement shortly before the Iowa Caucuses. Because of the short time leading up to the Caucus I felt I didn’t have enough time to mail out petition forms to all of the County Chairs. I emailed them explaining this & asked if they could print off some petition forms for their county. (What can I say? I trust people.)

Out of 99 counties, 4 emailed me back saying “no” they wouldn’t do it. However, after the caucuses, only 8 counties had collected signatures…8 out of 99.

We decided to do a big push for County Conventions on March 12th, so we sent petition forms to the top 30 counties of Iowa.

Early on in the day on March 12th, we were being told that some counties were dissuading people from signing them and some didn’t put them out at all!

I am completely stunned and frankly, hurt. Oh, I know, “it’s politics.” I guess it’s just further evidence I’m not a politician, just a citizen wanting to uphold the Constitution.

Now I do understand that some new arguments have come up that many Republicans feels justifies [sic] denying me ballot access. Allow me to address these concerns:

1) Grassley is fighting against Obama’s Supreme Court Justice Nominee so we need to stand by him. – I’ll fight against ANY liberal judge as well, but how does NOT having a Primary opponent help him? Wouldn’t his feet be held to the fire better by having a Primary opponent? Also, I would ask the question, “How has he done in opposing other federal judges Obama has nominated?”

2) With Patty Judge in the race now, we need to make sure Grassley is the nominee. – So you don’t even want to give other Iowa Republicans an option on the ballot? Besides, do you really think Democrats want to go against me, a young, energetic, conservative voice who articulates ideas in a non-threatening manner who wins over the younger generation?

So there it is. I have until Friday at 5pm to get enough signatures to get on the ballot. It’s easier with more people.

If you can print off the form in the link below & collect signatures from your friends & neighbors then turn them in to us by Tuesday, we can give Iowa Republicans an option for the 1st time since Chuck Grassley won the Senate seat.

Contact Adam Vandall about collecting your forms [redacted phone number]

http://media.wix.com/ugd/76c415_5df773ca8e6b4286a203da710ff019bf.pdf

Remember, Grassley’s been in DC since a year before I was born! Even if you like what he’s done, that’s too long! If he retires sometime during this term, which is likely considering he’d be 89 if he finishes the term, then the Governor will appoint his replacement. Get me on the ballot so Iowans have the option to choose his replacement.

I know many of you have already gathered signatures & for that I am extremely grateful. I am humbled by your support which is why I ask for your help again, so that our efforts these past couple of months don’t go to waste.

Thank you!
Robert Rees