Would Lieberman's actions be legal in all 50 states?

[Eric J in MN]

Do any states have a law that if you lose a major party primary, then you can't be on the ballot for that office in that year's general election?

[Rose Siding]

1. OH, I think has a "sore loser" law

It came up as an issue over Ney's hand picked replacement.

[MercutioATC]

6. It was actually a Repub creation (in Ohio) to mess with Strickland.

Strickland wasn't sure whether to run for Governor or his then-current seat. Republicans in Ohio passed legislation that made it impossible for him to run for both.

Now, it's come back to bite them in the ass with this Ney issue.

[cmd]

26. It is enforced only if the candidate is a Democrat

Attorney General Petro says his former running mate Joy Padgett can run in the 18th congressional district. She and Petro lost to Blackwell in the primary race for governor. Click that link below and donate a little something to Zack Space.

[NoPasaran]

2. You can't do it in Texas

You have to file to be in a primary OR declare intent to run as an independent early in January.

[S_B_Jackson]

7. Actually, you can do it in Texas. It's unlikely, but legal.

Primaries were on March 7. So if a Texas candidate lost, he/she would have until the May 11th deadline to collect 45,540 signatures from registered voters who did not vote in either party's primary. Admittedly, 2 months is not a lot of time to collect that many signatures - but I guess that it possible

[NoPasaran]

15. No, you can't

You can't petition to be on the ballot as an independent unless yuou had previously filed your declaration of intent in January. So, for example, when Carole Fournames realized last summer that she was unlikely to beat Governor Goodhair in the primary, she dropped out of that race so she could file and petition as an independent.

[Gatchaman]

3. Hopefully, national attention will bring "sore loserman" laws

nationwide.

[primative1]

4. Hmm ...

My initial thought was something on the line of "in a democracy anyone can run, dang it" ... but the idea that you would have to file your papers early enough so that you couldnt double dip is attractive and would circumvent this entire Lieberman Syndrome.
I like the idea.
I like it but maybe I'm just too biased to see a downside.
Anyone?

[Eric J in MN]

9. A supporter of Lieberman might say that because

...he's ahead in the polls, the people of CT should be able to elect him.

That isn't my position, but I can understand that position.

[Zhade]

18. They'd be using circular logic, though.

If loser lieberman (man, I love the sound of that) wasn't able to run as an indie, there would be no polls indicating he had any standing, because he wouldn't be in the race and thus wouldn't be part of the poll.

[emald]

5. you'd think that lieberman would recognize

the voice of the people, which has been heard loud and clear by all except the busheviltwin lie berman. Guess that voting has no place in his thoughts, only his own imagined granduer over all, divine right, better than the rest of us bullshit.
Take a hike you sore looser. idiot

[MrBenchley]

8. Yes in some, no in others

[CrushTheDLC]

10. Is it really surprising that Holy Joe did this?

Remember that he ran for Senate AND Vice President at the same time in 2000. Which is probably illegal in many states, or should be. It's one thing to hold a Senate seat if it's not the year you are up for re-election - as John Kerry did - but entirely something else to actually run for both offices (which John Edwards recognized, though he might have been required by NC law to do so. I honestly don't know and don't have time to look it up at the moment)

Had Joe been allowed to take his elected office in 2000, then a Republican governor would have appointed a replacement senator, who then would have served an entire 6 year term. It was irresponsible of Joe to put a Democratic senate seat in jeopardy then, just as it is now, by his refusal to accept his defeat last Tuesday.

[MrBenchley]

11. "Which is probably illegal in many states, or should be"

LOL!

[CrushTheDLC]

13. Well, instead of laughing, Mr. know it all....

Why don't you look it up in Mr From's database, since that's where you get most of your information.

[MrBenchley]

14. No, I think I'll just continue laughing at the clueless.....

[MercutioATC]

21. Ummm...it IS illegal in many states.

Ohio being one of them.

[LincolnMcGrath]

22. Keep in mind you are dealing with someone who though

Bernie Sanders presided over a House seat from a teeny-tiny district in a liberal state!

[MrBenchley]

24. Probably. Or it should be (snicker)

[MercutioATC]

28. Was that reply intentionally nonsensical?

...or are there medical issues we should be aware of?

[Shrek]

16. How is it irresponsible?

If he had resigned from the Senate to run only for VP, wouldn't the same governor have appointed his replacement? How would the results have been materially different?

By not resigning, he ensured that his seat would remain Democratic in the event that he didn't make it to the office of Vice President.

[Eric J in MN]

19. If Lieberman didn't seek his Senate seat in 2000, then

...another Democrat would be in that seat right now.

Lieberman prevented another Democrat from running in 2000.

[LincolnMcGrath]

23. Most folks either forgot that fact, or never knew it.

He also stirred up a bunch of crap to cause infighting in 00 among prospective running mates of Al Gore.

[karynnj]

17. If you thought that Senator X was an incredibly good Senator,

would you think it should be allowed. I saw no conflict in 2000, and the idea that people in CT could vote for him for both seemed ok. In fact, had Gore been innaugerated as well as elected - this might have lost a Democratic Senate seat, which could happen with a Senator not up for election. (MA changed the law over Romney's veto - so there would be a special election if Kerry won.)

If a Senator was sufficiently well liked in his home state that he could win his seat without much home state campaigning - I don't see the problem. I wish MA allowed this - as I think Kerry is an excellent Senator and his seat is up in 2008. He will have to choose. (I doubt they will change the law for him on this - the change last time benefited the whole Democratic party - this change would benefit Kerry. There hasn't been an open Democratic nomination for Senator since 1984 - when Kerry won in an upset to get it.)

[theanarch]

12. he couldn't do this in NJ...

...petitions for independents have to be submitted no later than the day of the primaries, and one cannot file multiple petitions. Although it is possible to run for multiple offices, e.g., one can be a state legislator or hold a municipal/county office and be a member of congress. Again, laws vary from state to state.

[WyLoochka]

20. Wyoming has a Sore Loserman law

which prohibits running in the general after losing the primary. A surprising factoid I just learned about my new home state.

[MaineDem]

25. I'm told it's not allowed in Maine

I haven't looked it up myself though.

[dflprincess]

27. I don't think he could have done this in Minnesota because

filings for public office close well before the September primary.