Deval Patrick Short Of Signatures For Michigan Primary Ballot

Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's presence on Michigan's presidential primary ballot is in jeopardy after the state said his campaign failed to get enough valid voter signatures. Patrick, a late entry to the presidential race, is unlikely to appear on the March 10 ballot.

The Michigan Department of State said Patrick's campaign filed 13,777 signatures, but more than 5,100 were deemed invalid due to errors and incomplete addresses. That left Patrick with 8,660 signatures, 2,685 left than necessary.

The state automatically put on candidates "generally advocated by the national news media to be potential candidates" as of Nov. 8 or people identified by Michigan's Democratic chairperson in a filing Nov. 12.

But Patrick needed so many signatures because of his late entry to the race, with news breaking of his possible run Nov. 11 and announcing his intentions days later. He filed papers to run in Michigan Dec. 13.

A spokesperson for the Patrick campaign told the Detroit Free Press it is "weighing our options to ensure that Deval Patrick is on the ballot in Michigan on March 10th."

The Michigan primary ballots will still have a Massachusetts presence. Sen. Elizabeth Warren will be on the Democratic ballot, while Gov. Bill Weld will be on the Republican ballot.