A self-described progressive candidate tried to game the system \u2014 running as a Republican in a deep-red congressional district \u2014 and it didn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Samuel Ronan, a former Democratic candidate, filed to run in the GOP primary against Rep. Mike Carey. To get on the ballot, he signed a legal declaration swearing he was a Republican.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Problem: he\u2019d already said publicly that the whole thing was a strategy \u2014 running Democrats as Republicans in \u201cdeep red districts\u201d to \u201cget a foot in the door.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That didn\u2019t sit well with actual Republican voters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of them filed a formal protest, pointing to Ronan\u2019s own words as proof he was trying to mislead voters. The local elections board split along party lines, and Ohio\u2019s Secretary of State stepped in to break the tie \u2014 kicking Ronan off the ballot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ronan sued, claiming the state violated his First Amendment rights by using his political speech against him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A federal judge wasn\u2019t buying it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can change parties, the court said. You can say whatever you want politically. But you can\u2019t sign a legal document under penalty of fraud and expect the state to ignore clear evidence you didn\u2019t mean it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or, as the judge put it: the First Amendment doesn\u2019t give you a free pass to lie on official paperwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ronan made a last-ditch appeal to the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The justices declined \u2014 no explanation, no lifeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bottom line: if you\u2019re going to run in a party\u2019s primary, you actually have to belong to it \u2014 at least on paper and in practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n