A Democrat candidate hoping to challenge U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) cannot appear on the Democratic primary ballot in the Senate race, an Iowa judge ruled on April 10. Former U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer’s name shall not be on the ballot because she failed to meet signature requirements, Polk County District Judge Scott Beattie said, agreeing with petitioners. Iowa law mandates any people who want to run for the Senate collect at least 3,500 signatures, with at least 100 eligible electors being from at least 19 counties in the district. Finkenauer collected the signatures but failed to meet the second requirement, Republicans argued. The State Objection Panel voted 2-1 in March to reject the petition, but the Republicans appealed the vote to the courts. Some of the signatures clearly did not have dates or had an incorrect date, petitioners said. If the objected signatures were ruled illegal, then Finkenauer wouldn’t meet the …