Independent candidate Chris Gambino will remain on the November ballot in the 143rd state House District race in Bucks County.

Commonwealth Court Judge Lori Dumas ruled Tuesday, Aug. 25, that Gambino's nomination papers were valid, rejecting a challenge to both his petition signatures and his use of "Forward Independent" as a political body name. The judge did not issue a detailed written opinion, the Bucks County Beacon reported.

The ruling keeps a three-way contest alive in a district the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee has targeted. Republican Rep. Shelby Labs currently holds the seat. Tim Hayes, backed by the DLCC, is also running.

Two local voters, represented by attorney Adam Bonin, filed the challenge. Bonin primarily works with Democrats on election-related cases, according to the Beacon. The objection argued that Pennsylvania law prohibits political parties from adopting names too similar to one another and noted that another candidate had already filed as a member of the "Independent Party" in an adjacent district.

Gambino said he listed "Forward Independent" because he views himself as an independent but consulted with and is endorsed by the Pennsylvania Forward Party, a center-left organization that endorses candidates from both major parties and independents it calls "Forward Independents" on its website.

"It confirmed what we knew to be true, real people signed to get an independent on the ballot … People in this district need to know they have a real option this November," Gambino said of the ruling.

Gambino called the challenge political, alleging the filers aimed to knock him off the ballot because they feared he could draw votes from the Democratic candidate.

Bonin declined to comment on the ruling until a more detailed opinion is issued. He said he had "no interest in getting involved in a tit-for-tat" when asked about Gambino's allegations.

Brian McMurray, a Pennsylvania Forward Party executive committee member, said in a statement that Gambino fought for his rightful place on the ballot and for the constituents who signed his petition.

Labs' district office is at 1032 N. Easton Road, Suite C, in Doylestown. The general election is Nov. 3.