McMahon Seeks Second Ballot Line

by Christine Stuart | May 31, 2012 12:30am Google
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Posted to: Congress, Election 2012

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Linda McMahon

Republican Linda McMahon may have been endorsed by her party, but she’s also seeking the support of the Independent Party.

According to the Secretary of the State’s office, McMahon requested a petition on Tuesday so she could begin to collect the necessary 7,500 signatures to run as an Independent Party candidate.

In 2006, the last time U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman ran for the seat he ended up forming his own party the “Connecticut for Lieberman” Party in order to run as an independent if he lost the Democratic nomination. However, that’s not the reason McMahon’s campaign sought the petition.

If McMahon is endorsed by the Independent Party her name would appear twice on the November ballot, just like U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy’s name will appear twice on the ballot, once on the Democratic line and once on the Working Families Party line. 

“Linda is going to win the primary in August and will appear on the ballot as the Republican candidate in the general AND just as Congressman Murphy will appear on the ballot under the Democrat Party and the Connecticut Working Families Party, Linda may appear on the ballot under the Republican Party and the Independent Party in November,”  Erin Issac, McMahon’s communications director, said in a written statement.

In 2010 the Independent Party endorsed 30 candidates for statewide office, including Warren Mosler for U.S. Senate.

But over the past two years there’s a dispute about who controls the Independent Party and if there was an illegal rule change made in 2010. Mike Telesca of Waterbury is being challenged by Robert Fand of Bethel who claims he’s the chairman of the Independent Party. They’ve asked the Secretary of the State’s office for an opinion, but were told they will have to settle the matter internally or take it to court.

McMahon is the second candidate to seek the support of the Independent Party this year. Lisa Wilson-Foley, a Republican running in the 5th Congressional District, has also take out a petition.

The petitions need to be returned to the Secretary of the State’s office by 4 p.m. Aug. 8, six days before the party primary.

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