Gordon Howie, an independent candidate for U.S. Senate, submitted approximately 5,000 signatures on April 29, the independent petition deadline. He needs 3,171 valid signatures.

According to this story, even though the Secretary of State has already said Howie has enough valid signatures, the Republican Party has purchased a copy of the petition, and will seek to determine if the Secretary of State is mistaken. The last part of the story also says the Republican Party may contact all the petition signers.