Hard to run as a 3rd- party candidate, but it’s easy to challenge them when they try

GEORGE WASHINGTON was not a third-party candidate. He was a no-party candidate. He was adamantly opposed to the idea of political parties, believing them to be detrimental to the intent of the constitution. John Tyler started his political career as a Democrat, but it was the Whigs who nominated him as William Henry Harrison’s running mate in 1840. The Harrison-Tyler ticket was only the second time the Whigs appeared on a presidential ballot after they rose from the ashes of the National Republican (no, not today’s Republicans) and the Anti-Masonic parties. Andrew Johnson, a Democrat, was Republican Abraham Lincoln’s vice president when they ran together on a National Union Party ticket. Since the Civil War, there have been major pushes for a third-party candidate at least 10 times. Few have had any real steam. When Teddy Roosevelt and his Bull Moose Party came in second to Woodrow Wilson in 1912, it probably had more to do with the former president’s name recognition than the new party. Alabama Gov. George Wallace would be the nextmost successful when he carried five states for the American Independent Party in 1968. Other than that, third-party or independent candidates have had a better shot at disrupting a presidential run than winning one. Does that mean they shouldn’t have a place on Pennsylvania ballots? Legal challenges have been filed regarding three third-party candidates in the Keystone State. The most high profile is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the environmental lawyer and Kennedy clan member whose independent campaign has been, well, let’s call it colorful. A Spotlight PA story says the challenge to his case questions the legitimacy of his nominating petitions, noting problems with signatures and torn documents. Challenges also have been filed against Claudia De la Cruz, the candidate for the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and Constitution Party candidate James N. Clymer. It is never a surprise to see a campaign act like outraged football coaches, calling on the refs to review the footage and overturn the call on the field. But the number of signatures on nominating petitions is a sticking point for Kennedy and De la Cruz. It’s an issue the Pennsylvania Department of State identifies, even highlighting it on the Third Party Nomination Paperwork section of its website. There are 5,000 signatures required for third-party or independent petitions to make the ballot, following a 2017 ruling. It’s a higher threshold than the 2,000 signatures needed to make the primary ballot for major party candidates — but that’s because they go through a primary. The state warns candidates the 5,000-signature requirement could be challenged. The ruling notes only the Constitution, Green and Libertarian parties, and history tells us if there is a reason to challenge, someone will. It would be helpful if all of the duly elected officials in Pennsylvania would stop suing and fighting over elections past and elections yet to come and do their job. Fix the law about how third-party and independent candidates can file rather than relying on the courts and a disclaimer notice on the Department of State’s website.