Three States That Elect Governor and Lieutenant Governor Jointly Have “Half-Tickets” on Ballot

Alaska, New York and Wisconsin are among the states that elect the candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor jointly.  The candidates for each party are listed in one space on the ballot, and the voter must choose a team.

Nevertheless, Alaska, New York, and Wisconsin this year have printed on the ballot tickets that include a candidate for one office, but not the other one.  In Alaska, the Alaskan Independence Party will appear on the November ballot with Don Wright for Governor and no one for Lieutenant Governor.  The Alaskan Independence Party had also appeared on the November 1998 ballot with a candidate for Governor but not for Lieutenant Governor, so there was a precedent that Alaska permits “half-tickets.”

In New York, the Rent is 2 Damn High Party is listed on the ballot with a candidate for Governor, but none for Lieutenant Governor.

In Wisconsin this year, the Libertarian Party appears on the November ballot with no one for Governor, but someone for Lieutenant Governor.  Also there are two independent candidates on the Wisconsin ballot for Governor, but neither has a Lieutenant Governor running mate.  See this story about the Wisconsin situation.  The article says the Libertarian candidate for Governor failed to gather 2,000 “votes” to get himself on the primary ballot, but the article ought to say “signatures.”  Thanks to Kimberly Wilder for the New York information.

Illinois State Appeals Court Upholds Exclusion of Constitution Party from Statewide Ballot

On October 4, an Illinois State Court of Appeals upheld a decision of a lower state court, keeping the Constitution Party statewide slate of nominees off the ballot.  The State Court of Appeals says the slate has 24,935 valid signatures.  25,000 are needed.  Here is the six-page decision, Constitution Party v State Board of Elections, 1-10-2813, First Appellate District.

The Court upheld an unclear Illinois law that seems to say that if anyone circulates a petition for any partisan office during the primary season, that person is barred from collecting signatures for any independent or minor party candidate in the general election, even if the two petitions were for entirely different office.  If the court had struck down that law, or interpreted it differently, the statewide slate would have had 25,017 valid signatures.  The party may appeal that to the State Supreme Court.  The State Supreme Court earlier this year put a Republican candidate for the legislature on the ballot, even though he had voted in the Democratic primary last year.  The Constitution Party will be able to argue that it is absurd to let someone run for office even though he or she had that connection with a different party in the recent past, and at the same time disallow anyone from petitioning for two different parties in the same year.

Three-Party Debate for Ohio Secretary of State

On October 5, the three candidates for Ohio Secretary of State debated each other.  See this story.  The three candidates are Democrat Maryellen O’Shaughnessy, Republican Jon Husted, and Libertarian Charlie Earl.  Ballot Access News has been tracking debate inclusion starting in 1994, and this is the first time any Ohio debate for statewide office has included both major party nominees along with any minor party or independent candidate in a debate, except for the special election for Attorney General in 2008.  Thanks to Kevin Knedler for the link.

Ohio will hold another three-party debate on October 6, for the three candidates for Auditor.

Survey USA Poll Shows Big “Other” Vote in California

On October 4, SurveyUSA published a poll for three California statewide contests:  Governor, U.S. Senator, Lieutenant Governor.  The poll shows Democrats leading all three contests, and a significant “other” percentage, especially for Lieutenant Governor.

For Governor, the poll shows:  Jerry Brown, Democrat, 47%; Meg Whitman, Republican, 43%, “other” 8%, undecided 2%.

For U.S. Senator, Barbara Boxer, Democrat, 46%; Carly Fiorina, Republican, 43%; “other” 9%, undecided 2%.

For Lieutenant Governor, Gavin Newsom, Democrat, 42%; Abel Maldonado, Republican 37%; “other” 19%; undecided 3%.

UPDATE:  a David Binder poll for Attorney General, released October 6, also shows a big vote for minor party nominees for Attorney General.  See that story here.  It shows Kamala Harris, Democrat, 30%; Steve Cooley, Republican, 27%; a minor party nominee 11%; undecided 32%.

Two Green Party Members are Still in the Running for the California Citizens Redistricting Commission

The California Citizens Redistricting Commission will draw the boundaries for state legislative districts, after the 2010 census data is available (unless the voters vote for a ballot measure next month, Proposition 27, that would abolish the Commission).  The Commission will have 5 registered Democrats, 5 registered Republicans, and 4 members who are neither.  The process by which the membership of the Commission will be chosen is almost finished.  At this point there are 60 California voters who are still in contention to be on the Commission.  They include two registered members of the Green Party, 18 independents, 20 Republicans, and 20 Democrats.

The two Greens are Teresa Espana of Fresno County, and Stuart Flashman of Alameda County.  Thanks to Mike Feinstein for this news.

Lenora Fulani Seems to Endorse Charles Barron, Freedom Party Nominee for New York Governor

New York city councilmember Charles Barron is running for Governor of New York on the Freedom Party ticket.  Although he is a registered Democrat, he and the Freedom Party are unhappy that no statewide nominee of the Democratic Party this year is non-white.  Barron represents the 42nd district in Brooklyn, and when he was young, in 1969, he was an activist in the Black Panther Party.  Here is his official city web page.  He doesn’t seem to have a campaign web page.

On October 5, Lenora Fulani held a press conference to express her opinion about the New York gubernatorial race.  She said, “I welcome Charles Barron’s entry into independent politics and his bid to create the Freedom Party.  And I want to urge the Harlem community, together with independent-minded people across this state, to help the Freedom Party get the 50,000 votes needed for ballot status.”

The other nominees of the Freedom Party this year are Ramon Jimenez for Attorney General, and Eva Doyle for Lieutenant Governor.  Former New York city Mayor David Dinkins has said that Charles Barron should be allowed into this year’s gubernatorial debates.  Thanks to Nancy Hanks for this news.