Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Republican nominee running against Democratic Congressman David Wu says he will not quit the Republican Party.

But that hasn't stopped members of Oregon's Independent Party from recruiting him to run on their ticket.

Joel Haugen captured the GOP nomination in the May primary. In the process, he angered some in his party by endorsing Barack Obama for President and running on a progressive platform.

The recently-formed Independent Party of Oregon then approached Haugen.

Sal Peralta is the secretary of the Independent Party.

Sal Peralta: “We'd like for Joel to maintain his party status as a Republican, and it would be my hope that he'd appear on the ballot as an independent. We did some research, and it would be the first time nationally that a candidate having received the nomination of a major party to appear on the ballot as a member of the minor party, with the exception of some of the fusion voting states, like New York."

Oregon has considered so-called fusion voting but the idea has not gained traction here.

Peralta says Monday the party will ask the Secretary of State if it's possible for Haugen to accept the nominations from both parties, but then appear only as an Independent.

The Secretary of State's office says it's unclear whether that's possible -- and is exploring the legal conundrum.