Libertarian Ballot Battle in Iowa | Des Moines News

Des Moines News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 31, 2026 · 1m

A Iowa judge just handed a major blow to Libertarian candidate Marco Battaglia, ruling he can’t appear on the ballot because he used “Marco” instead of his legal name, Mark T. Andersen — despite arguing voters know him by his preferred name. The judge sided with election officials, saying legal names are required for objective, consistent ballot access. Meanwhile, fellow Libertarian Rick Stewart stays on the ballot after a similar name mismatch between his petition and affidavit — this time, the judge ruled it’s not a violation. With tight races looming and control of Congress at stake, these…