Democrat William Stinson was ordered out of the state Senate on Friday by a judge who said Stinson's campaign broke the law by soliciting hundreds of absentee-ballot votes. His opponent Bruce Marks was named the winner.
The ruling from U.S. District Judge Clarence C. Newcomer could tip control of the state Senate to the Republican side."Political corruption in Philadelphia has gone on too long and can't be ended too soon," said Marks, a Republican. He has maintained since Election Day that Democratic absentee-ballot fraud gave Stinson his 461-vote margin of victory.
Newcomer said the Stinson campaign violated federal election laws by soliciting hundreds of people to cast their votes by absentee ballots rather than at the polls.
The judge ordered the Philadelphia Board of Elections to declare Marks the new winner within three days by recertifying the election based solely on voting machine tallies, which put Marks ahead in the 2nd District race.
Stinson "is hereby enjoined from acting in any capacity to vote, perform any duties or otherwise hold himself out as the duly elected senator from the 2nd senatorial district of Philadelphia," the judge wrote.