(RepublicanDaily.org) – Cara Castronuova, who is most known as one of the fitness coaches on the weight-loss show “The Biggest Loser,” has sued the New York chapter of the Republican Party over what she claims are “onerous” rules that have prevented her from appearing on the ballot for consideration for a seat on the Senate.
Castronuova, a former Golden Gloves boxing champion, along with businessman Josh Eisen, previously contended for the NY state GOP’s endorsement for a Senate run, but the party eventually picked Mike Sapraicone, a former detective for the New York Police Department.
Both Castronuova and Eisen were unsuccessful in getting 25% of the weighted delegates’ votes, which is the initial requirement for appearing on a ballot for the Republican primary. Barring that, candidates who still want to qualify for ballot status need to gather 15,000 signatures from registered Republican voters.
Sapraicone, who has also received an endorsement from former president Donald Trump, is looking to unseat Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in the elections in November. The endorsement served as another blow to Castronuova, who is an ardent Trump supporter and hoped to run under the former chief executive’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) umbrella.
One of the key points Castronuova’s suit is hinging itself on is a 2000 decision by a federal judge that ruled that New York Republican ballot access requirements were unconstitutional. Castronuova is also claiming that the party is practicing favoritism, as they have “exempted themselves and their favored candidates from the very rules they set,” the celebrity fitness coach’s lawsuit reads.
While Castronuova has set herself to the task of gathering the 15,000 signatures she needs to qualify, she has only collected more than 13,500 so far. The Biggest Loser training coach also said in her suit that the 15,000-signature requirement is “practically impossible for an average citizen” to fulfill.
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