On January 30, the Missouri Constitution Party filed a federal lawsuit against St. Louis County officials, over a provision in the charter that says only the two largest political parties may nominate a candidate in a special election to fill a seat on the County Council. “Two largest parties” is determined by the vote for Governor at the last gubernatorial election.

The case is Constitution Party of Missouri v St. Louis County, e.d., 4:15cv-207. The case was assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Ronnie White.

The case is somewhat similar to these two cases from twenty years ago: (1) New Alliance Party v North Carolina State Board of Elections, 697 F Supp 904 (e.d. 1991), struck down a North Carolina law that said newly-qualifying parties couldn’t run for partisan county office; (2) A Connecticut Party v Kezer, 2:92cv-550 (decision of August 28, 1992), struck down a Connecticut law that only the two largest parties could run for Justice of the Peace. Thanks to Carla Howell for this news.