The Idaho deadline for independent presidential candidates is August 25. Idaho’s Secretary of State has already determined that all four independent presidential petitions have enough valid signatures. The candidates who qualified by petition are:
1. Darrell Castle
2. Rocky De La Fuente
3. Evan McMullin
4. Jill Stein
The ballot-qualified parties in Idaho are Constitution, Democratic, Libertarian, and Republican. The reason Darrell Castle had to submit an independent presidential petition, even though the Constitution Party is on the ballot, is that the officers of the Idaho Constitution Party are angry with Castle, and certified Scott Copeland as the Constitution Party presidential nominee. So there will be two candidates on the November ballot associated with the Constitution Party. Copeland was defeated for the party’s presidential nomination on April 16, 2016. He placed second, with 103.5 votes. Castle won the nomination with 184 votes.
Richard, I don’t know why you keep saying that the officers of the Idaho CP “are angry with Castle.” From what I understand, their decision apparently has to do with procedural following of Idaho election law whereby Darrell Castle is ineligible (non-participation in their primary). Let’s try to stick with the facts here please. If you can provide past evidence of Idaho presidential nominees that are to the contrary, feel free to advise. Thank you.
The facts are that many individuals have won presidential primaries or caucuses in Idaho, but they still didn’t appear on the general election ballot if the national convention chose someone else than the winner of the Idaho primary or caucus. This year Bernie Sanders won the Idaho Democratic caucus by 78%, but that doesn’t mean the Idaho Democratic Party will list Bernie Sanders in November.
Ted Cruz won the Republican presidential primary in Idaho on March 8. Cruz got 45% and Donald Trump got 28%. That doesn’t mean the Idaho Republican Party will list Cruz on the November ballot.
Yes, but I believe the Idaho CP’s argument is that Castle did not participate in the primary. Bernie Sanders participated in the caucus and Ted Cruz participated in the primary. I’ll defer to Floyd Whitley for the full explanation. I am just an innocent bystander.
Hubert Humphrey didn’t run in a single Democratic presidential primary in 1968, but he still won the nomination. Adlai Stevenson didn’t run in a single Democratic presidential primary in 1952, but he got the nomination. John W. Davis didn’t run in a single Democratic presidential primary in 1924, but he got the nomination. Wendell Willkie did not put his name on a single Republican presidential primary in 1940, and he got the nomination. The purpose of presidential primaries is to elect delegates to a national convention. Presidential primaries do not of themselves nominate anyone for President.
Good points Richard and I have to agree with you. It makes no sense for the Idaho CP to keep Castle off the ballot…The Oregon CP does the same thing, but they are not affiliated with the national CP so thats a different case also. I just mentioned that in case it comes up later.
A link to the Idaho statutes regarding elections is posted below. I can find nothing indicating that a party cannot nominate an individual who did not participate in an Idaho primary, if there was one. If anyone else can, please post the relevant portion of the law here.
https://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title34/T34CH7.htm