A federal judge has denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against Kentucky Educational Television. David Patterson, the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate, is suing the network over his exclusion from next Monday night’s debate.
KET claims Patterson did not meet revised debate criteria that require a candidate to have at least $100,000 in contributions and at least ten percent support in a public poll, among other criteria.
Patterson alleges KET officials are excluding him from the debate because he’s a third party candidate.
KET filed a motion seeking to have the lawsuit tossed out, but U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove ruled Monday the case would proceed.
A hearing will be held Thursday in federal court in Lexington to determine if KET must allow Patterson to participate in the debate alongside incumbent Senator Mitch McConnell and Democratic nominee Alison Lundergan Grimes.
