State puts Graveline on ballot as independent in attorney general's race

LANSING (AP) - A former federal prosecutor is on the November ballot as an independent candidate for Michigan attorney general.

The Board of State Canvassers put Chris Graveline on the ballot last Friday after he successfully sued over Michigan's rules for independent candidates. An appeal by the secretary of state failed last Thursday.

Ralph Nader ran as an independent for president in 2004, and Ross Perot ran a similar campaign in 1992. But state election officials can't recall an independent candidate for a statewide office getting on the ballot.

Graveline didn't get enough petition signatures before a July deadline and argued that it was far easier for political parties to put candidates on the ballot. A judge agreed that the law violated his rights and set the threshold at 5,000.

Published: Tue, Sep 11, 2018