[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I remember when they had to replace a Senate candidate

Lautenberg, New Jersey. He was indicted (and subsequently convicted). it looked like the Dems were doomed to lose a seat, but the judge saved their bacon.

[irishjuggler]

I thought it was “Torch.”

[Kozak]

Thanks I remembered it was NJ.
But trying to Google it was damn near impossible without remembering the name.

[Political Junkie Too]

Lautenberg was the replacement. Bob Torricelli was the disgraced candidate.

Indeed, the judge ruled that Lautenberg could replace Torricelli because the voters "deserved a competitive election."

The judge ignored the fact that there was a competitive election and Torricelli was losing. He dropped out for "political" reasons and the judge gave the Democrats a mulligan.

That's why many states don't allow a candidate to drop out and be replaced simply because they are losing in the polling -- what they call for "political" reasons.

-PJ