On October 29, the Fourth Circuit heard oral argument in Greenville County Republican Party v State of South Carolina, 13-2170. The Greenville County Republican Party wants to be able to close its primaries, especially its primaries for partisan city office, because the party pays for the administration of those primaries.
The U.S. District Court had ruled that the county unit of a political party does not have standing to challenge the open primary laws. A side issue in the case is the state law that tells a party that it can choose to nominate by convention, but only if three-fourths of the delegates registered at its convention vote to do that. The party feels that state law is too restrictive and the party should decide what vote is needed.
The three judges are two Obama appointees, James Wynn and Stephanie Thacker; and also Paul Niemeyer, a Bush Sr. appointee. If anyone hears any news about how the oral argument went, please comment. So far there seem to be no news stories. The Fourth Circuit will post a recording of the oral argument on Friday, October 31.
Sorry – factions of all Electors are NOT independent empires inside the USA.
See the White Primary cases by SCOTUS.
i.e. PUBLIC Electors nominated PUBLIC candidates for PUBLIC offices by PUBLIC laws.
ALL Electors in top 2 primary States.
SOME Electors in or out of party groups in the other States.
Too many really STUPID lawyers and judges to count.
The GOP – in seeking to promote ideology purity – is only narrowing its base, and possibly bring about its demise.
My Great-Grandfathers witnessed the implosion of the Whig Party, and I – or at least my grandchildren – may get to witness the implosion of the Republican Party.
History does seem to repeat itself.
Officers of opposing parties vote in the Republican primaries. Sitting Democratic State House members vote in the Republican primary, picking their opposition. The County Party is required, by law staff, pay for, and conduct, municipal primaries.