Nirvana's former bassist is running for clerk of a rural county to protest Washington state's method of letting candidates name their own party affiliation.

Krist Novoselic (noh-voh-SEL'-ik) is running for clerk of
Wahkiakum (wah-KAI'-ah-kum) County in western Washington.

Novoselic is head of his local chapter of the Grange, a civic
organization. His election paperwork declares that he's running
under the "Grange Party" banner, even though the Grange isn't a
political party.

Novoselic tells The Daily World newspaper that he's protesting
the state's system that lets candidates say what party they prefer
when running for office. He says that's confusing for voters and
lets candidates appropriate the names of private associations.