McMahon Files Papers Laying Groundwork for Possible Independent Party Bid

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon has filed the papers with the Secretary of the State’s office setting the stage for a possible run with the Independent Party.

In order to run with the party on the November ballot, McMahon needs to submit 7,500 signatures from registered Connecticut voters by Aug. 8, said Av Harris, spokesman for Secretary of the State Denise Merrill. McMahon filled out the papers to start that process Tuesday.

McMahon won the endorsement of delegates at the state Republican party nominating convention earlier this month. She will face off against fellow Republican, former Congressman Christopher Shays, in an Aug. 14 primary.

But submitting the papers to run with the Independent Party in November doesn’t necessarily mean the former CEO of WWE will continue her battle should she lose the August primary, the route taken by Sen. Joseph Lieberman in 2006. It might mean she is simply looking for another line on the ballot, running with the Independent Party in addition to the Republican party.

“Linda is going to win the Primary in August and will appear on the ballot as the Republican candidate,” McMahon spokeswoman Erin Isaac said via email. “[J]ust 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.”

The Independent Party has minor party classification when it comes to the presidency and several other offices; Ralph Nadar ran under its banner in 2008 and received close to 20,000 votes in the state. But it does not have that status in the U.S. Senate race because its 2010 candidate, Warren Mosler, failed to capture at least 1 percent of the vote, though he came close. (He needed to get 11,522; he received 11,275.)

Because of that, the party lacks an automatic berth on the November ballot and candidates have to collect signatures to petition their way on.

There are other complications as well. Like the Connecticut for Lieberman Party, control of the Independent Party is up for dispute, with two factions fighting it out. One is led by Mike Telesca of Waterbury, the other is led by Robert Fand of Bethel. (Telseca is being sued by Fand, who contends the party rules were changed illegally in 2010.)

Telesca said he has not talked to McMahon about her possible run with the Independent Party. He says he’s had inquiries from three or four different candidates running in various races seeking the group’s backing.