Massachusetts Holds Another 4-Candidate Gubernatorial Debate

On October 15, the four candidates for Massachusetts Governor debated each other.  See this story.  The candidates are Democratic incumbent Deval Patrick, Republican Charlie Baker, independent candidate Tim Cahill, and Green Party nominee Jill Stein.  The story focuses on the question asked by a member of the audience, which was which living politician would each of the four candidates most like to be.

Vermont Holds 4-Candidate Debates

On October 14, four candidates for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont debated each other.  See this story.  The candidates were Democrat Steve Howard, Republican Phil Scott, Progressive Party nominee Marjorie Power, and independent Peter Garritano.

Also on October 14, four candidates for U.S. Senate debated each other.  See this story.  The candidates were Democratic incumbent Patrick Leahy, Republican Len Britton, Socialist Party nominee Peter Diamondstone, and Cris Ericson, whose ballot label is “United States Marijuana.”

UPDATE:  Also, on October 7, six of the seven candidates for Governor debated each other.  Like the others, the debate was broadcast on Vermont Public TV.  Candidates who debated were Republican Brian Dubie, Democrat Peter Shumlin, Liberty Union nominee Ben Mitchell, and independent candidates Cris Ericson (whose ballot label is “United States Marijuana”, and who is on the ballot for two different offices this year), Dennis Steele, and Emily Peyton.  A seventh candidate, independent Dan Feliciano, did not appear.  Thanks to C. T. Weber for the news about the gubernatorial debate.

Republican Legislative Nominee in Florida Disqualified by Court

Late in the afternoon on October 15, a Circuit Court Judge in Tallahassee, Florida, disqualified the Republican nominee for State Senate in the 12th district, Jim Norman.  The lawsuit is Ambler v Election Canvassing Board, 2010-ca-3014, Leon County.  See this story.  Here is the 21-page decision.  Attached to the decision are 24 pages of exhibits.

The lawsuit had been filed by Kevin Ambler, who had lost the Republican primary to Norman.  There is no one on the ballot except for the Republican nominee, although there is write-in space on the ballot.  However, Florida has the nation’s earliest deadline to file as a declared write-in candidate of any state.  Two write-in candidates did file by the July 2010 deadline but they do not have active campaigns.

The decision says on page 21 that ballots will not be reprinted, and Norman’s name will remain as the only name on the ballot.  But a vote for Norman will be treated as a vote for whomever the Republican Party chooses to replace him.  The order says each polling place will have a “factual notice informing voters who would be actually receiving their vote when they cast their ballots.”

Kansas Holds 3-Party Gubernatorial Debate

On October 13, three of the four candidates for Governor of Kansas debated each other.  See this story.  Debating were Republican Sam Brownback, Libertarian Andrew P. Gray, and Reform Party nominee Ken Cannon.  The Democratic nominee, Tom Holland, refused to participate.

However, all four candidates had debated each other in a televised debate on October 7 in Wichita.

Alaska Holds 3-Candidate U.S. Senate Debate

On October 12, three candidates for U.S. Senate in Alaska debated each other.  See this story.  The three candidates were Republican nominee Joe Miller, Democratic nominee Scott McAdams, and write-in candidate, incumbent U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski.  This is almost certainly the first time any write-in candidate for U.S. Senate or any other statewide office has ever been invited to debate the major party nominees, in any state.