Democratic Parties of Michigan and New Jersey Hope to Have Earliest Presidential Primaries in 2024

This National Public Radio story discusses the recent decision of the Democratic National Committee to revise the 2024 presidential primary timetable. It focuses on the desire of the Michigan and New Jersey Democratic Parties to have the earliest 2024 presidential primaries.

However, the story does not mention the problem, for Michigan, that the legislature has a majority of Republicans in both houses. The date of the Michigan presidential primary can’t be changed without state legislative action.

Democrats in New Jersey do control both houses of the legislature, so it is possible for Democrats to move that state’s primary.

New York Legislator Discusses Her Idea for a Bill to Let Lieutenant Governor be Removed from June Primary Ballot

Here is an interview with New York Assemblymember Amy Paulin, about her idea for a bill that would allow the Lieutenant Governor to remove his name from the Democratic primary ballot. She wants the bill to pass in time to affect the June 2022 primary. The legislature is in recess so the bill won’t be introduced until April 25.

North Carolina Challengers to Madison Cawthorn Ask Fourth Circuit to Reinstate Their Ability to Challenge Him

On April 14, the North Carolina voters who are challenging the ballot position of Congressman Madison Cawthorn filed this brief in Cawthorn v Amalfi, 22-1251, Fourth Circuit. They argue that the U.S. District Court was wrong to conclude that when Congress passed an amnesty bill for ex-Confederates, that amnesty extended indefinitely into the future and covered everyone who might have engaged in insurrection.

They also argue that the U.S. District Court was wrong when it refused to let these voter-intervenors into the case. The challengers are the only appellants in the Fourth Circuit, because the State Board of Elections did not appeal.

Cawthorn is safely on the May primary ballot, so if the challengers win in the Fourth Circuit, and Cawthorn has been defeated in the primary, the case will be moot. If Cawthorn wins his primary, or qualifies for a run-off primary, the case will proceed.

Both Sides Submit Answers to Questions in Georgia Federal Case Over Challenge to Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene

On April 14, all sides in Greene v Raffensperger, n.d., 1:22cv-1294, submitted answers to some questions the U.S. District Court Judge had asked of both sides.

Here is Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s response.

Here is the response of the Secretary of State.

Also, here is the response of the voters who had brought the challenge to Congresswoman Greene.

Iowa Supreme Court Rules Unanimously that Abby Finkenauer Should be on June Democratic Primary Ballot

On April 15, the Iowa Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion in Schmett v State Objections Panel, 22-0618. It says that Abby Finkenauer should be on the June 2022 Democratic primary ballot as a candidate for U.S. Senate. Here is the opinion, which involves interpretation of the statute. A lower state court had kept her off the ballot because she was three signatures short in one county, because the signer (who was a registered voter) didn’t add the date next to his or her signature.

Finkenauer is a former member of the U.S. House, and is considered the leading candidate for U.S. Senate in this year’s Democratic primary.