Deborah Andrews, a committeewoman for the Democratic Party in Edison, New Jersey, claimed her party's chairman excluded her from a primary ballot after discovering she was black.
The early April deadline passed for Andrews' participation in a June primary that would decide committee membership. She filed a lawsuit against the local party after she found out on April 6 that she wasn't on the ballot, according to NJ.com on Tuesday.
Local New Jersey party Chairman Keith Hahn took "full responsibility," claiming that he lost Andrews' petition and her exclusion from the ballot "had absolutely nothing to do with her being African American." Hahn claimed Andrews' lawsuit, however, was a "political move."
Andrews heard that Vice Chairman Shariq Ahmad would complete her petition paperwork. Ahmad never did, but Hahn later acknowledged he received a completed petition from Edison Councilman Ajay Patil.
Hahn also notarized the petition for another candidate Krupa Patel. But while the township clerk received Patel's petition, Andrews' was never filed.
Andrews claimed Hahn was unaware of her race until they met on March 18 in order for her to sign a petition to get on the primary ballot. He reportedly offered to go to court last week to explain the alleged mix-up.
Louis Mangione, Andrews' lawyer, said Hahn had a "fiduciary duty to file" Andrews' petition and suggested he excluded Andrews to prevent her from competing in the primary.
"He didn't want anyone to challenge," Mangione said. "If she was dropped from party ticket, she should have had the options of running independently."
"If he felt strongly about it, it would have been rectified," Mangione also said.
The lawsuit charges that Hahn exhibited "unsavory and possibly fraudulent practices" in the past and that Hahn usurped nearly two dozen sitting committee members.
Hahn responded by claiming the litigation was "inflammatory" and "devoid of merit."