On March 3, a bill was introduced in the Arizona legislature, passed unanimously in both houses, and signed by the Governor. It eases the number of signatures needed by legislative candidates for 2022 only. The bill has no effect in some districts but lowers the number of signatures in other districts. Here is a description of House Bill 2839.
On March 2, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Myers expedited Congressman Madison Cawthorn’s lawsuit on whether a North Carolina Board of Elections can hear a challenge to his qualifications. The Cawthorn case will be heard Friday, March 4, at 10:30 a.m. Cawthorn wants the hearing on his qualifications stopped. The challenge to his qualifications is based on the Fourteenth Amendment, section three, concerning insurrection.
On March 3, the Iowa Libertarian Party submitted its petition to be on the ballot for Iowa Governor. See this story. As far as is known, this is the first statewide minor party petition submitted in any state this year.
On March 1, Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne Chang ordered the Secretary of State to revise the ballot occupational designation of a candidate for legislature in a special election. Haney v Weber, 34-2022-80003825. See this story.
UPDATE: here is the four-page court order.
The first round of the special election for Assembly, 17th district, was held February 15. No one received as much as 50%, so there is a runoff set for April 19. David Campos, one of the candidates, used the occupation “Civil Rights Attorney” on the February 15 ballot. But in the run-off, assuming there is no appeal of the court ruling, he must change it to “Criminal justice administrator.” His most recent job has been an executive in the San Francisco District Attorney’s office.
It is surprising that a court would alter the ballot designation after the first round has been held. This precedent might have relevance to California ballot labels concerning party affiliation. For example, if the Common Sense Party qualified after the June 2022 primary but before the November 2022 election, and it had any candidates in the general election, they might be able to win a ruling that the November ballot should say “Party preference: Common Sense Party” instead of “Party preference: none.” Current California law says the partisan label can’t change between the primary and the election.
On March 2, the Florida House passed HB 921, which makes it illegal for initiative committees to accept more than $3,000 from donors who don’t live in Florida. The vote was 77-39. A similar bill, SB 1352, is pending in the Senate.
An almost identical law was held unconstitutional by the Ninth Circuit in 2021. That case was Thompson v Hebdon, an Alaska case. Thanks to the Institute for Free Speech for the news about the Florida bill.
