Melissa Gilbert can be replaced on Mich. ballot over GOP objections

WASHINGTON — A Michigan election board Monday declined to act on the state Republican Party's request that it overturn a decision allowing Little House on the Prairie actress Melissa Gilbert to remove her name from consideration for a Detroit-area congressional seat.

At a meeting in Lansing of the state Board of Canvassers, representatives from both the state Republican and Democratic parties spoke regarding the decision from the Secretary of State's office allowing Gilbert to take her name off the November ballot for Michigan's 8th Congressional District.

In May, Gilbert said she was ceasing her run as a Democrat to challenge U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop, a Republican from Rochester, Mich., because of health reasons. But as it was too late at that point to remove her name from the Aug. 2 primary ballot, Democratic party officials waited until after the primary — which Gilbert won as the only Democrat running — to ask for her removal and replacement on the November ballot with assistant Macomb County prosecutor Suzanna Shkreli of Clarkston, Mich.

State Elections Director Chris Thomas granted Gilbert's removal and Shkreli's replacement as nominee under state law early last week. Republican Party lawyers then asked that the state board take up the decision.

In a letter to Thomas and the board, lawyers Jason Hanselman and Gary Gordon argued that Gilbert — who withdrew from the race citing neck and back injuries suffered years ago and underwent surgery earlier this month — hadn't "adequately proved that she would be physically unfit to serve in Congress."

The two suggested that Thomas had acted unilaterally and called on the board to take up the issue at Monday's meeting.

It was unclear whether the Republican Party would seek to take further actions. Sarah Anderson, a spokeswoman for the state party said officials were "exploring our options and haven’t ruled anything out."

State Democratic Party Chairman Brandon Dillon welcomed the board's decision not to overturn the earlier decision.

“The law was already clear, but we’re pleased with the Board of Canvassers’ decision today to confirm for Michigan Republicans that the people of Michigan’s 8th Congressional District deserve to have a choice on Election Day,” he said.

Follow Todd Spangler on Twitter: @tsspangler