On January 27, the California Senate passed SB 46 by a vote of 30-10. It says that presidential primary candidates must sign a statement under penalty of perjury that they meet the constitutional requirements to be president.

Here is a new story about the bill. The author, Senator Tom Umberg, says it is to prevent President Trump from running for renomination in 2028.

The problem with this bill is that the California Constitution directs the Secretary of State to automatically place every candidate on presidential primary ballots who is reported in the news media as a significant candidate. The bill, if enacted, would violate the California Constitution for the same reason that the California Supreme Court unanimously invalidated an earlier state law that said presidential primary candidates must reveal their income tax returns.

Arizona State Senator Thomas J. Shope (R-Coolidge) has introduced SB 1609. It makes it illegal for a party to change its name. It also says that party names may not include any of these words or phrases: independent, unaffiliated, no preference, decline to state, or any variation of those words or phrases.

The bill says it is retroactive to December 31, 2024.

Last week, David Binder Research released a new poll for the California gubernatorial race. It shows two Republicans in first and second place. The only candidates with at least 10% are: Chad Bianco 17%, Steve Hilton 14%, Katie Porter 11%, Eric Swalwell 11%.

Also last week, Public Policy Polling completed a gubernatorial poll commissioned by Democratic candidate Katie Porter. It shows the top four are: Bianco 18%, Hilton 17%, Porter 14%, Swalwell 11%. The poll is not on PPP’s website but the New York Times mentioned it on February 3.