(INDIANAPOLIS) - A judge has ruled that Republican state Senate candidate Alexandra Wilson will remain on the May 5 primary ballot, rejecting an effort to remove her over a past criminal case, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle.
The dispute centered on a 2010 case, where Wilson was initially charged with a felony but ultimately pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor.
Putnam County Superior Court Judge Charles Bridges agreed with that distinction, ordering that her name stay on the ballot.
The legal challenge was brought by attorney Jim Bopp, who supports another candidate in the race. He has argued Wilson should be disqualified under state law barring felony offenders from holding office. Bopp has indicated an appeal is being considered.
The case comes amid a broader and more contentious primary in western Indiana, where Wilson is running against incumbent Sen. Greg Goode and Vigo County Council member Brenda Wilson, who has received high-profile endorsements from President Trump and other GOP party leaders.
According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, Alexandra Wilson has also faced pressure from within Republican political circles to leave the race ahead of the filing deadline.
Wilson has said she received calls, texts and voicemails from individuals connected to national political operations, urging her to withdraw. She has said those communications included discussion of potential opportunities if she stepped aside, along with warnings about how the campaign could unfold if she stayed in.
Wilson declined to withdraw and has publicly rejected claims that her candidacy is intended to influence the outcome of the race, saying her campaign is focused on local issues.
The judge's ruling ensures the three-candidate Republican primary will move forward with all names remaining on the ballot.