The Rat's trapped...

...at least in Round 1. The Stakeholder reports:

A state judge has ordered that the sign-up period be re-opened for the Nov. 2 election in Louisiana's 5th Congressional District, where incumbent Rep. Rodney Alexander first signed up as a Democrat, then switched to the Republican party just before the qualifying deadline.

Judge Allen Edwards did not set a date for the new sign-up period, saying it will happen only after appeals which are likely have been exhausted.

A lawyer for the Louisiana Democratic Party filed the lawsuit aimed at either forcing Alexander to run as a Democrat or getting him kicked off the ballot altogether. The lawsuit cites a Louisiana law stating: "no candidate shall change or add his political party designation ... after he has qualified."

While the appeals are underway, the Louisiana D's have a chance to line up a pair of strong candidates for the seat. Why a pair? Under Louisiana's distinctive primary system, the top two vote getters go forward regardless of partisan ID. That means there's a chance to keep Alexander off the November ballot altogether, which seems like the sweetest possible outcome for Rodney the Rat.

And kudos to the Party for fighting back!