Connecticut Democratic U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman and his primary opponent, Ned Lamont, will hold a televised debate the evening of July 6 in West Hartford. The Connecticut Democratic primary will be on August 8. This is the most interesting major party U.S. Senate primary in the nation this year, since there is a chance that an incumbent U.S. Senator may lose his own party’s primary.
Senator Lieberman refuses to rule out the possibility that he will run as an independent. He would need 7,500 valid signatures by August 9 to run as an independent. The fact that he is a registered Democrat, and that he is running in a Democratic primary, does not bar him from qualifying as an independent. The former Democratic state chair, John F. Droney, a close associate of Lieberman’s, advocates that Lieberman drop out of the Democratic race now and begin circulating a petition. Clearly, the reaction to this first Lieberman-Lamont debate on July 6 will powerfully affect what the Democratic primary voters are likely to do, and what path Lieberman will choose.
Is is true that in many states, losing a party’s primary would make one a “sore loser” ineligible to file for the fall ballot with another party or as an independent? Are there many states in which a “sore loser” can run as an independent but not with another party? I’m just looking for top-of-the-head generalities; I don’t need specific information for any particular state(s).
In general Connecticut is easier on fusion, and I would imagine this aspect goes along with that?
Let’s talk specifically about Connecticut. Can Lieberman stay in the Democratic primary on August 8, lose, and then submit signatures to run as an independent on August 9? Is that legal in Connecticut? In most states it would not be.
Or does he have to “drop out” (how? when?) of the Democratic primary in order to run as an independent?
These are important questions because we’re in a rare moment when “sore loser” laws (or the unusual lack of them in Connecticut) might make national news. Advocates of independents and minor parties might want to say something about these laws while the spotlight is briefly on them.
Are sore-loser laws good or bad for democracy? Also, are they good or bad for minor parties?
To both questions, I would say they’re bad — they limit the ability of parties to choose their own candidates. Are there any arguments to the contrary?
Great questions, John. My own view is that “sore loser” laws aren’t a good thing. There have been several examples when the lack of such a law has actually been a good thing for minor parties. One of the best examples was the 1916 Florida gubernatorial race, in which colorful Baptist minister Sidney J. Catts was blatantly cheated out of the Democratic nomination and went on to win the three-cornered general election as the nominee of the tiny Prohibition Party.
I hope Lieberman wins reelection. I don’t care if it’s as a Democrat, Independent, or as a Write-In candidate, which might have to happen if he looses and can’t get enough signatures in time to get on the ballot as an Independent.