McDaniel to say if run for Senate in Mississippi is over | Food and Environment Reporting Network

State Sen Chris McDaniel was expected to hold a news conference today to say if he will appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court or accept defeat in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, says the Jackson (Miss) Clarion-Ledger. Judge Hollis McGehee dismissed on Friday a lawsuit by McDaniel contesting the victory of six-term Sen Thad Cochran in the June 24 run-off. The judge agreed with Cochran’s argument that there was a 20-day deadline to file challenges and that McDaniel filed too late.

The Cochran camp said McDaniel, a Tea Party favorite, should concede in the race that he nearly won. Cochran won the run-off by 7,667 votes. McDaniel said there were enough irregular votes to erase Cochran’s advantage. Among its charges, the McDaniel camp said Cochran did unusually well in heavily Democratic counties.

“If McDaniel appeals, it would go directly to the state Supreme Court, which would fast-track a decision since the Nov. 4 general election looms. If McDaniel were successful in such an appeal, the case would still have to be tried. It had been set for Sept. 16 before McGehee’s ruling to dismiss,” said the Clarion-Ledger.