Teabagger wins Democratic nomination after losing Republican primary

[Landslide Lyndon]

!!!

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/6/17/1537129/-Daily-Kos-Elections-Live-Digest-6-17?_=2016-06-17T11:26:11.387-07:00#update-1466192456000


One of the strangest little sagas of 2016 has reached a climax: Tea partier Art Halvorson, who narrowly lost challenge to Rep. Bill Shuster in the Republican primary, has now been declared the winner of the Democratic primary, thanks to the magic of (apparently unsolicited) write-in votes and absence of any actual Democrat who filed to run in this dark red district. Halvorson says he hasn't yet decided whether to accept the nomination and doesn't have any timetable for making up his mind, but it's not inconceivable that he could put another serious scare into Shuster if he did run.

While it would be an odd sight to see, Halvorson could win if he once again fires up conservatives (Shuster beat him by just 1 percent in April) while also pulling in votes from Democrats who show up for the presidential race and, while they're at it, vote a straight ticket without even knowing who Halvorson is. Halvorson has said previously that should he prevail, he'd caucus with the Republicans, so whatever happens, it really wouldn't make much difference either way.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

He should run, why not?

[publicunofficial]

So if Halvorson starts leading in the polls, do we call this Lean D?

[Kingpoleon]

So if Halvorson starts leading in the polls, do we call this Lean D?

I'll call it Lean Tea.

[Joe Republic]

See?!  The Tea Party was always a bipartisan movement of the silent majority!!

[Kevinstat]

Does Pennsylvania not have a minimum vote requirement for write-in candidates in a primary?  Or did Halvorson just meet whatever that requirement was without even trying?

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Does Pennsylvania not have a minimum vote requirement for write-in candidates in a primary?  Or did Halvorson just meet whatever that requirement was without even trying?

Halvorson met the minimum number.

[Kevinstat]

I just answered my own question.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Source

[Kevinstat]

Does Pennsylvania not have a minimum vote requirement for write-in candidates in a primary?  Or did Halvorson just meet whatever that requirement was without even trying?

Halvorson met the minimum number.

Thanks.  I just added a link to an article with more information (the one linked to in the Daily Kos entry cited in the beginning of this thread).

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

This is hilarious.

[/]

I remember this story. FF

[mencken]

So he has no chance in the general?

[Heisenberg]

So he has no chance in the general?

Despite no Democratic candidate filing in the primaries, there are a decent bunt of Democrats in this district, so I imagine plenty of them will vote for Halvorson without knowing who he is. Add in those who voted for him in the primary, plus possibly some independent voters, and he has a chance. Of course, he said he'd switch right back to the GOP if elected.

[mencken]

So he has no chance in the general?

Despite no Democratic candidate filing in the primaries, there are a decent bunt of Democrats in this district, so I imagine plenty of them will vote for Halvorson without knowing who he is. Add in those who voted for him in the primary, plus possibly some independent voters, and he has a chance. Of course, he said he'd switch right back to the GOP if elected.

Is this why Cook, Sabato, et al haven't put this race on their radar?

[Heisenberg]

So he has no chance in the general?

Despite no Democratic candidate filing in the primaries, there are a decent bunt of Democrats in this district, so I imagine plenty of them will vote for Halvorson without knowing who he is. Add in those who voted for him in the primary, plus possibly some independent voters, and he has a chance. Of course, he said he'd switch right back to the GOP if elected.

Is this why Cook, Sabato, et al haven't put this race on their radar?

Probably. He really did say that he would do that, which makes sense, he would not fit in at all with the Democrats, and he is to the right of many Republicans. Whether the voters know it or not, the race is really between two (different types of) Republicans. Ironically, the one on the Democratic line is running to the right of the one on the Republican line.

[skoods]

So, hypothetically, if this race were to get tight, progressives would be more likely to support the republican candidate over the democratic candidate due to ideology. Who would have thought?

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Who in the Democratic Party decided to leave this seat unchallenged anyway???

[Heisenberg]

Who in the Democratic Party decided to leave this seat unchallenged anyway???

Shuster seems to be pretty popular in his district, and is somewhat of an entrenched incumbent. His father also held this seat for years before his son succeded him. Halvorson also unsuccessfully primaried Shuster in 2014 and lost. And the district is R+9, so the Democrats probably weren't expecting to win.

[Pragmatic Conservative]

Halvorson has stated he has come to an decision and is waiting to publicly announce his intentions.

http://www.dailyamerican.com/news/local/somerset/halvorson-i-ve-made-a-decision/article_d5be7046-02f3-5a2e-88d9-4342906b4bf2.html

[Heisenberg]

Halvorson accepts the Democratic nod, will face Shuster in November.

[Maxwell]

Endorsed. It's not about getting him elected, it's about beating scum like Shuster.