Judge rejects effort to kick Indiana Senate candidate from GOP primary ballot

( INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE ) — A judge has ordered that a Republican state Senate candidate’s name remain on the primary ballot despite attempts by a top political ally of Gov. Mike Braun to have her kicked off. The judge’s order issued Thursday sides with Alexandra Wilson in her bid challenging current Sen. Greg Goode of Terre Haute. The ballot fight is significant because of its possible impact on the campaign prospects of fellow candidate Brenda Wilson, a Vigo County Council member who has President Donald Trump’s endorsement following Goode’s December vote against the Indiana congressional redistricting plan . Prominent conservative attorney Jim Bopp, a close associate of Braun who is supporting Brenda Wilson, has tried to have Alexandra Wilson removed. Bopp has argued Wilson’s 2010 criminal conviction for resisting law enforcement when she was 19 years old makes her ineligible under a state law prohibiting someone convicted of a felony crime from holding elected office. Alexandra Wilson has maintained she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor despite initially facing a low-level Class D felony charge. Putnam County Superior Court Judge Charles Bridges agreed, writing in his three-sentence order that “the intent of the parties” to the plea agreement was for a misdemeanor conviction and that Alexandra Wilson’s name is to remain on the May 5 primary ballot. Bopp said he disagreed with the judge’s order and that an appeal was being considered. Alexandra Wilson has also denied Bopp’s accusations that her candidacy is a political trick to help Goode defeat Brenda Wilson in the primary. Alexandra Wilson last week released phone call recordings and text messages of high-level Trump staffers and others suggesting she would be in line for political appointments if she dropped out of the Republican primary.