On October 28, Ken Block, founder of the Moderate Party of Rhode Island, re-registered as a Republican. He will seek the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2014. In 2010, Block was the Moderate Party’s gubernatorial nominee, and he polled 6.47%, giving the party ballot status through 2014. Although the Moderate Party will still be on the ballot in 2014, without Block, it probably won’t survive beyond 2014.
The party’s biggest achievement was probably winning a ballot access lawsuit that struck down a Rhode Island law that made it illegal for anyone to circulate the party petition during an odd year. The party also tried very hard to persuade the 2013 session of the legislature to abolish the straight-ticket device. Even though the party persuaded a majority of Rhode Island state legislators to support that bill, the bill didn’t pass because the Speaker of the House blocked it.
I was really looking forward to this party making some headway, with Ken Block polling very well in 3 way polls already (I’ve seen 12% and 15%). The party has some very innovative and solid ideas. Is there a chance Block is trying to seek the GOP nomination, and that once he fails or it appears he will, he’ll go back to running under the Moderate Party label?
No, both the Republican Party and the Moderate Party nominate by primary, simultaneously. Of course anyone is free to seek the Moderate Party’s nomination for Governor, so someone else might do that.