The Arkansas Supreme Court on Wednesday denied Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ request to put on hold two lower court rulings to move up special election dates she chose to fill two vacant seats in the General Assembly while the cases are on appeal.

The high court also denied Sanders’ request to consolidate the two cases that challenge the special election dates in Arkansas House District 70 and Senate District 26, as well as motions to expedite the briefing schedules in the cases. The latter was requested by Sanders and agreed with by the plaintiffs in both cases, according to court filings.

The Wednesday decision means that, in the interim, the two lower courts decisions stand: The state must move up the dates of the respective elections. The briefings, as currently scheduled,

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