On August 23, the New York State Board of Elections sued the Independence Party, charging that the party’s campaign account that is shared with various Democratic State Senators is an illegal campaign account.  See this story.  Parties can receive higher contributions in New York than candidates can.  The Independence Party set up a fund jointly with the conservative-leaning Democratic State Senators who always vote to keep the State Senate under Republican control.  See this story.  The State Board says that is not permitted.

In other Independence Party news from New York, on August 24 the Independence Party won a lawsuit in the Appellate Division, fourth district, to validate its nominees in Erie County.  The dispute was whether the party’s executive committee or the state committee had authority to give permission for various major party candidates to receive the Independence Party nomination.  A majority of the justices held that the party had properly authorized its executive committee to make that decision.  Lavell v Baker, 17-01444.  Here is the decision.  Thanks to Joe Burns for the link.