GOP Officials: Collins to Stay on Ballot, Despite Indictment

A Republican official says U.S. Rep. Chris Collins will remain on the November ballot despite previously suspending his campaign amid an insider trading indictment.

The announcement by Erie County GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy on Monday throws the race for the western New York seat further into turmoil.

There was no immediate comment from Collins, and it wasn’t immediately clear whether he would actively campaign.

Collins suspended his campaign in August after he was charged with illegally using inside information about a biotech company to help his son avoid hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses. Collins has pleaded not guilty and vowed to fight the charges.

Republicans were looking to strip the three-term conservative lawmaker’s name from the ballot.

The Democratic candidate is Nate McMurray.