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Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Cochran Win

A Mississippi judge has dismissed a lawsuit that seeks to overturn Sen. Thad Cochran's victory in a Republican primary runoff.
Image: File photo of McDaniel delivering a concession speech in Hattiesburg
Tea Party candidate Chris McDaniel delivers a concession speech in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in this June 24, 2014 file photo. McDaniel, who lost Mississippi's Republican U.S. Senate primary last week, took an initial step on July 3, 2014 toward challenging its outcome, serving papers to the son of his opponent. JONATHAN BACHMAN / Reuters

JACKSON, Miss. -- A Mississippi judge has dismissed a lawsuit that seeks to overturn Sen. Thad Cochran's victory in a Republican primary runoff. Judge Hollis McGehee said Friday that state Sen. Chris McDaniel, who lost to Cochran, failed to start the election challenge on time. McDaniel will announce Tuesday whether he will appeal the ruling to the Mississippi Supreme Court. McGehee issued his ruling a day after hearing arguments in Laurel about the timing of McDaniel's lawsuit. The judge agreed with Cochran's attorneys. They cited a 1959 Mississippi Supreme Court ruling that said an election challenge must begin within 20 days of the election. McDaniel waited more than a month. McDaniel's lawsuit claims irregularities spoiled the June 24 runoff. It asks the judge to declare McDaniel the winner or order a new runoff.

-- Associated Press