As an insurgent candidate in 1968, Gravel had never established a firm party base.

These requirements have routinely been used to remove insurgent candidates from the ballot.

Nowadays, insurgent candidates outside the two parties have a much better ability than ever before to get themselves and their messages across to the voters.

The new rule would allow some insurgent candidates to appear on the company's ballots.

If that proposal got a majority vote, the insurgent candidates would be allowed the next year.

For one thing, the incumbents have served less than two years, apparently causing insurgent candidates to see them as vulnerable.

But over the years the laws have come to protect incumbents against challenges from insurgent candidates.

There was a time when volunteers collected signatures to put an issue or an insurgent candidate on the ballot.

Mr. Davis also said that despite being the incumbent district leader, he considered himself an agent for insurgent candidates.

Alternatively, the commission could limit the number of insurgent candidates that can run.