Not so fast, Rodney Alexander

Published August 23, 2004 8:56PM (EDT)

From Reuters:

"A Louisiana judge on Monday ordered state officials to reopen the ballot in a U.S. congressional race and allow new candidates to enter because of a last minute party switch by the district's incumbent. District Court Judge Allen Edwards ruled that Rep. Rodney Alexander sought to manipulate the ballot system when he switched his affiliation from Democrat to Republican shortly before the sign-up period ended on Aug. 6."

"His switch gave the state's 5th district voters a field of two Republicans and one low profile Democrat. Democrats had filed a lawsuit seeking Alexander's removal from the race because of his late party switch, or a ruling that would allow them to field a stronger Democratic challenger."

The question is whether Democrats have any strong candidates in this heavily-Republican district to run against Alexander and the other GOP candidate on the ballot. But still, at least the Louisiana judge didn't let Alexander completely get away with his last-minute switcheroo.


By Geraldine Sealey

Geraldine Sealey is senior news editor at Salon.com.

MORE FROM Geraldine Sealey


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