several georgian citizens (carl swensson and another georgian represented by georgia state representative mark hatfield, a georgian represented by taitz, and a georgian represented by van irion) filed challenges with the georgia secretary of state, brian kemp, regarding obama's inclusion on the march primary ballot. kemp referred the challenges to deputy chief judge michael malihi, an administrative law judge, who denied obama's motion to dismiss them and scheduled a hearing for january 26, 2012.