The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday overturned a lower court decision to put Senate candidate Michelle Ferrigno Warren’s name on the June 30 Democratic primary ballot, siding with the Secretary of State’s Office.

After Ferrigno Warren fell short of collecting the required signatures to get on the ballot she sued, alleging the coronavirus had unfairly hampered signature-gathering efforts. A Denver District Court judge ruled in her favor, and Democratic Secretary of State Jena Griswold appealed the decision.

Warren turned in 5,383 valid signatures March 17. U.S. Senate candidates are required to collect at least 10,500 valid signatures — 1,500 from each of Colorado’s seven congressional districts.

Because Ferrigno Warren didn’t collect 1,500 signatures in six of seven congressional districts, the Supreme Court determined that the Secretary of State’s Office made the right call. The Election Code, according to the ruling, requires strict compliance.

The same Denver judge ruled last week that Lorena Garcia, another Democrat who fell well short of the required signatures, also should be allowed on the ballot, but ruled against Diana Bray, a third candidate, as she gathered far fewer signatures than the other two.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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