Attorneys for Ryan Frazier and Robert Blaha were in Denver District Court Tuesday morning explaining why the candidates’ names should appear on the primary ballot despite a ruling from the Secretary of State that both fell several hundred signatures short of petitioning onto the ballot.

Judge Elizabeth Starrs is expected to rule quickly whether the Republican U.S. Senate candidates should appear on the June 28 ballot.

LeeAnn Morrill, assistant attorney general, requested the judge rule by 9 p.m. Wednesday so as not to “jeopardize the viability of the election.”

Morrill said county clerks will struggle to prepare their ballots if they aren’t given more notice on whether to include Frazier and Blaha in the Senate race.

Three other Republicans are on the ballot. Darryl Glenn, Jack Graham and Jon Keyser will appear on the ballot for a chance to win the GOP nod and face incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet in November.

Robert Blaha March 3, 2016. Contributed photo

Colorado Springs businessman Robert Blaha