The Broome County Board of Elections has determined Jason Ellis failed to submit enough signatures in his bid to secure the Republican nomination for sheriff.

Commissioners held a petition hearing Tuesday morning in Binghamton and concluded Ellis had not been able to collect the 1,000 valid signatures needed to force a September primary.

The decision means incumbent Republican Sheriff David Harder now can focus on the November general election.

Ellis has not been available to comment on the ruling. But in a post on his campaign's Facebook page said: "The Republican leaders and the Sheriff decided, not the voters."

The post signed by Ellis concluded with: "The dream is over today."

Harder declined to comment on the Ellis Facebook post.

Harder is seeking a sixth four-year term. He's facing a challenge from former Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan, who is running on the Working Families Party line.

Ryan could not be reached Tuesday afternoon to react to the Board of Elections ruling.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

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