Feeling a Little Stupid

Ahem:

ALBANY, N.Y. – The New York state Court of Appeals ruled unanimously Monday evening that a Democrat running for a rural upstate Senate seat traditionally held by Republicans couldn’t keep his name on the Independence Party line on the ballot in a special election.

Republican Will Barclay will have his name on the Independence line instead of his opponent, Democrat Darrel Aubertine. The candidates are running in a special election to represent a district running along eastern Lake Ontario and including Oswego and Jefferson counties, and parts of St. Lawrence County.

The race has sparked personal attacks, negative campaigning and a lawsuit over who gets the Independence Party line.

Can someone from upstate New York please explain this crap to me?