Martin O'Malley won't be on the Ohio primary ballot

Democratic presidential candidate Martin O'Malley's name will not appear Ohio's primary ballot, the Ohio's secretary of state's office said Thursday. Though the former Maryland governor submitted 1,175 signatures to Ohio's Board of Elections before the Dec. 16 deadline, the board only accepted 772 of those signatures. To qualify for the state's primary on March 15, a candidate needs 1,000 signatures.

"While this news is disappointing, we are exploring all of our options, and Gov. O'Malley will campaign vigorously in Ohio," spokeswoman Haley Morris told the Associated Press. O'Malley is already confirmed to appear on the ballot in 18 other states. His Democratic rivals Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders will both appear on Ohio's primary ballot.