On August 17, Burlington, Vermont, held a special election to fill the vacancy in the Third Ward. Progressive Party nominee Joe Magee won, with 47.1%. An independent backed by the Democratic Party received 39.4%; a Republican received 13.5%. See this story.
On August 18, the New York Libertarian and Green Parties filed this brief in the Second Circuit in Libertarian Party of New York v New York State Board of Elections, 21-1464. This is the case against the 2020 bill that increased the statewide petition from 15,000 to 45,000 signatures, and altered the definition of a party from one that had polled 50,000 votes for Governor, to one that had polled 2% for the office at the top of the ballot in the preceding election.
The parties are seeking injunctive relief to have their qualified party status restored. The U.S. District Court had denied injunctive relief.
On August 24, the California Secretary of State filed this brief in Beaber v Weber, c.d., 2:21cv-6558. This is the federal lawsuit that argues the U.S. Constitution requires that Governor Gavin Newsom should be able to be listed on the second half of the recall ballot, as a candidate to succeed himself in the event a majority votes to recall him.
The brief points out that this system has been in the law since 1911. Also it criticizes the plaintiffs for not having filed the lawsuit sooner.
On August 25, Markham Robinson, acting chair of the American Independent Party, died of an illness. He had been in the leadership of the party ever since 2008. He lived in Vacaville, California.
On August 25, the New York Libertarian Party asked new Governor Kathy Hochul to support changing the definition of a qualified political party back to what it was before 2020. Here is the press release.
