This is not a drill. The WSJ reports:
Jim Traficant, the former Ohio congressman who served seven years in prison on corruption charges, has secured the necessary signatures to run for his old congressional seat as an independent, the Youngstown Vindicator reports.
The Mahoning County Board of Elections decided Monday that an additional 31 signatures on Traficant petitions were valid, giving him 11 more than necessary to get his name on the November ballot. One step to go: Trumbell County’s board of elections must officially certify the petitions. …
Traficant, who had served in Congress as a Democrat, will be running against a former aide, Rep. Tim Ryan, and GOP candidate Jim Graham, a pharmacist.
Battle ‘10 got a quick word with Mr. Graham, who said that Traficant’s candicacy is “going to change the dynamics of the race.”
“Mr. Traficant will pull votes — a few from me, and a lot from my opponent,” Graham said. “I can tell you that the Ryan camp is sweating right now, and there’ll be much more publicity about all three candidates, and the debates will be fascinating.”
Graham also said that while he and Ryan had been scheduling debates, Traficant had not been contacted yet, even though Graham had reached out to him through his supporters.