Who tried to get Libertarian Charlie Earl off the Ohio ballot?

A federal appeals court has ruled against the Ohio Libertarian Party in a lawsuit accusing the Secretary of State and others of conspiring against a candidate in the 2014 gubernatorial election.

(File photo)

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- A federal appeals court has upheld a Columbus judge's decision to throw out a lawsuit by Libertarians that accused Ohio's elections chief of conspiring to help Republican Gov. John Kasich win re-election in 2014.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati ruled that the Ohio Libertarian Party has not presented any evidence to show that Secretary of State Jon Husted's office and the state's Republican Party conspired to keep a candidate off the ballot in the 2014 gubernatorial election.

The appeals court's decision upholds a decision made in May by U.S. District Judge Michael Watson.

The Libertarian Party of Ohio brought the suit Jon Husted and voter Greg Felsoci, claiming they were part of a scheme to selectively enforce Ohio election law and helped Kasich win another term.

Libertarian Charlie Earl was seen as a potentially attractive alternative for those who may vote for Kasich, who later easily won re-election against former Cuyahoga County Executive Ed Fitzgerald. Felsoci filed a successful challenge against Earl that disqualified him from running.

An Ohio Libertarian Party spokesman said a few weeks ago that none of its members will run for office in Ohio this year, as the party declined to apply for recognition as a minor party.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.