One thing during all of this has become clear to me. There is nobody who vets these candidates!
This alone is outragous.
So here is an interesting proposal for the next election(s), we create a non-profit group whose purpose is to ensure properly vetted candidates. Each primary candidate is asked to submit documentation for verification.
Candidates will be listed via the web and their minimal qualifications tracked as it is verified.
To keep things legit, the requirements would be those as dictated by Constitutional, Federal and State Law.