Utah requires parties to poll 2% for any statewide race in order to retain qualified status. The only statewide race this year in Utah was the Attorney General’s race. See here for the results. The Libertarian Party polled 3.89%; the Constitution Party polled 3.25%; the Independent American Party polled 2.63%.
The Libertarian and Constitution Parties each polled over 2% in 2012 as well, and because parties get four years of ballot status when they meet the vote test, those two parties were not at risk of losing their status. But because they did exceed 2%, they are now also on the ballot for 2018.
The Independent American Party is now ballot-qualified in Utah and New Mexico. It had no nominees on the ballot this year in New Mexico, but because it abstained from running for Governor, it continues to remain on the ballot. Once a party is ballot-qualified in New Mexico, it stays on the ballot until it chooses to run for either President or Governor and fails to get one-half of 1%. Other parties that continue to be ballot-qualified in New Mexico are the Libertarian and Green Parties.
I thought the Independent American Party had merged with the Constitution(al) Party in Utah?
Or was the Constitution(al) Party so radically regressive, they couldn’t get along with them?
No, they’re both too set in their ways to merge together. While they’re the same in ideology, they have stark differences in leadership style and approach, and that’s a big deal to both of them.
Yeah, it’s pathetic, yet you will be surprised how petty and narrow-minded their active members and leaders are.
The Republican and Democratic parties are not qualified in Utah?