On July 13, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker formally declared his candidacy for the Republican Party presidential nomination. That makes 17 candidates with the qualifications to be recognized by the Republican National Committee as bona fide candidates. Pollsters include all 17. For example, see this Monmouth University Poll released July 13.
In all U.S. history, the most crowded Republican presidential primary ballots were in 1996, when there were an average of 8.1 candidates on the ballot. Because half the states place candidates on the ballot automatically in presidential primaries if they are discussed in the news media (which means, in practice, if they are recognized as bona fide by the party and by pollsters), all these 17 candidates will be on the primary ballots in states with such laws. Thus, assuming few if any of the 17 drop out before ballots must be printed in December 2015 and January-March 2016, the 2016 Republican primary ballots will be the most crowded regularly-scheduled statewide elections in U.S. history.
No state has ever had as many as 17 presidential candidates on a ballot in a general election. The largest general election ballot for President was in 2012, when Colorado had 16. Colorado required no petition, just a fee of $500. Colorado has since raised the fee to $1,000.
Since 2012, no state except Arizona has made ballot access in presidential primaries more difficult. Virginia has made it easier. Arizona formerly had no requirements except that the candidate submit a declaration of candidacy and show that the candidate had at least one worker in Arizona. In 2015, Arizona added a requirement that the candidate be on the ballot in at least two other states, or else submit a petition of 500 names.
In 2012, New Hampshire had the most crowded Republican presidential primary ballot, with 30 candidates. Virginia had the least candidates, only two. The average in 2012 was 7.25 candidates and the median state had six candidates. New Hampshire almost always has the most crowded presidential primary ballots because the state requires no petition, just a fee of $1,000.
What are the qualifications to be recognized by the RNC as a candidate? I wasn’t aware there were actual qualifications separating the “real” candidates from the obscure also-rans, aside from media attention and/or common sense.
That’s great news, Richard. Our United Coalition of 15 candidates for President includes two of the Republicans who have filed with the FEC.
Honorable Rhett Smith [Libertarian, Tiffany Briscoe [Gree Tea-Rainbow] and I met at the national Green Party convention’s Black Caucus while I was a unity candidate with Roseanne, we have kept our coalition together and now Rhett is running as a Libertarian instead of Green, I am a Republican instead of Republican.
The 9th USA Parliament President Ralph Beach [Independent] who lives in Charleston SC and is a top team player for unity has switched from Libertarian to Independent. Miss Joy Waymire [Decline to State] is playing by her own rules and many of our team is more united than ever.
With 10,000 seats available in the 9th USA Parliament we hope we can start growing faster in 2016 when we launch on 1/1/2016 and then on 2/1/2016 when we call for new nominations. So it’s great to have the support from Ballot Access News for our team. Nobody has it better than our team.
How about a mere 18 — 6+6+6 ???
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Abolish the super time bomb Electoral College.
Uniform definition of Elector-Voter.
P.R. and nonpartisan App.V.
Hal, the party has never set out objective standards, but the parties do make that judgment call every presidential election. The presidential primary laws of Florida and Georgia provide no means for a candidate to get on a presidential primary ballot in those states unless party leaders approve them.
I just spoke to Honorable Rhett Smith [Libertarian] on the phone in Texas this morning, and since 2012 POTUS candidates Tiffany Briscoe [Green Tea-Rainbow], he and I met at the Green Party’s national convention in 2012 as a Green Tea-Rainbow, Green and Libertarian in 2012, we have both agreed to promote our team in 2016 as a United Coalition where we can switch parties and gain more support.
He switched from Green to Libertarian, I switched from Libertarian to Republican and so everyone can now promote this as a way to integrate the Republican, Green and Libertarian Parties in 2016 because of our maneuver.
We have 15 candidates working together as a team:
The United Coalition’s 15 Candidates for President of the United States (POTUS)
Updated on 7/5/2015
http://www.usparliament.org/pdc.php
James Ogle [Republican] for President
Scot Olewine [Republican- Green Energy] for President
Keenan Dunham [Libertarian] for President
Miss Joy Waymire [Decline to State] for President
Andy Caffrey [Democratic] for President
Roger Nichols [Unity] for President
Rhett Smith [Libertarian] for President
Ralph Beach [Independent] for President
James Le Sage [Humanitarian] for President
Ernest Wells [Communist] for President
Jonah Bolt [One] for President
Vanessa Davis [Defender of the Republic] for President
Tony Jones [Republican] for President
Tina Cook [Independent] for President
Verone Auzenne Thomas [Whig] for President
In 2012, we worked with Roseanne Barr [Green Tea] in a multi-party coalition too:
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/a/145021/libertarian-primary-choice-describes-himself-as-outsider-in-own-party/
http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2012/02/james-ogle-edges-uncommitted-to-win-missouri-libertarian-presidential-primary/
Richard,
Good work!
Colorado raised from $500 to $1,000.
In economics it is called a ‘barrier to entry.’
I come from Staten Island with the Mafia.
Compete with mob, they mix you in with the cement!
Joe
Richard,
How about a list of filing fees and signatures
for all 50 states?
I saw a list in 2012, but I don’t remember where.
Many states had a filing fee to keep non-serious
people out. I guess AZ had frivolous Arizonans
declare a candidacy.
VA lowered to 5,000 from 10,000.
In 2012, only Romney and Paul were on the ballot.
Joe
Joseph, I also like to see a list of fees, signatures, ect, for the primaries for president. Rep. and Dem.
The Prez primary access stuff might be available from the Donkey/Elephant HQ or perhaps from the FEC ???
— with now ARMIES of lawyers on all EVIL sides trying to keep lots of folks OFF the ballots.
They still don’t have Mark Everson listed so really the number is higher.
Where are all the bona fide candidates listed?
If the big polling companies don’t include someone, that is a sign that the party doesn’t consider the candidate bona fide.
So to find a list, just check the polls.
I checked with the FEC and their “Quick Answers” section said to find out from each state’s election office as to getting on the ballot.