Democrats request probe of signatures on ballots of Michigan GOP Senate candidates

Democrats in Michigan are requesting an investigation into the signatures on ballots of the state's GOP Senate candidates. 

The Democrats are alleging that a candidate either wrote false signatures or forged signatures, according to The Hill.

In a letter obtained by the Detroit Free Press, the Michigan Democratic Party and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee requested the state's Bureau of Elections to investigate whether GOP candidates put down fake signatures or forged them.

“The apparent fraud uncovered demands an immediate investigation,” Michigan Democratic Party Chairwoman Lavora Barnes said.

Barnes called on the Bureau of Elections to "uphold their responsibility to protect the integrity of Michigan's elections."

The letter called for a review of signatures on the ballots of former Reps. Mike Rogers, Justin Amash, Peter Meijer and businessman Sandy Pensler. 

Rogers, the leading GOP candidate running for the seat opening up following last January's announced retirement from the Senate of Democrat Debbie Stabenow, called the letter an "antidemocratic stunt" by allies of U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, the Democratic front-runner for the nomination. His campaign spokesman also noted that Slotkin is dealing with a challenge to her petition signatures.  

Pensler, another GOP candidate, also criticized the request, saying, "Democrats can't beat Republicans at the ballot box so it looks like they're trying to eliminate Republicans from the ballot."