Q: On July 12, six Republicans ran as so-called “fake Democrats” against six real Democrats to force Democratic primaries in six recall races. Their participation was orchestrated by the state Republican Party to delay the general recall elections against six Senate Republicans. Why were people who acknowledged up front they were not Democrats allowed to run as Democrats?
A: Wisconsin requires only that a candidate in a state Senate primary collect 400 signatures to get on the ballot. The candidate must choose a party to represent but does not need to attest that he or she affiliates with or supports that party, said John Coleman, a UW-Madison political science professor.