On August 2, Ohio initiative proponents asked for rehearing en banc in Thompson v DeWine, 21-3511. This is the case over whether ballot access relief should have been granted due to the health crisis. The Sixth Circuit had said the case is moot. The petition for rehearing cites news that the health crisis is not over. Here is the petition.
On July 29, former Colorado Governor Richard Lamm died, at the age of 85. He had served two terms as Governor of Colorado, and in 1996 sought the Reform Party presidential nomination. He was one of only two candidates who qualified for the Reform Party’s presidential primary, which was conducted by postal ballot. The other candidate was Ross Perot, who had started the Reform Party in 1995 but who had originally said he didn’t want the party’s nomination. But after Lamm declared for the party’s nomination, Perot also declared for it. The results of the party’s presidential primary were: Perot 32,145; Lamm 17,121. Lamm only won in Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, and the District of Columbia. Thanks to Independent Political Report for this news.
On July 30, the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion in Thompson v Hebdon, 17-35019, a case over various Alaska campaign finance restrictions. The opinoin strikes down the law that says candidates can’t accept more than $3,000 in contributions from persons living outside Alaska. It also strikes down the law that prohibits individuals from giving more than $500 to a candidate or a political group. The vote was 2-1. Here is the opinion. Thanks to Aaron Starr for this news.
This Politico story explains that Democrats in both houses of Congress are working on a new election law bill. Thanks to ElectionLawBlog for the link.
On July 26, the Illinois State Appellate Court ruled that objections to the petition of Bill Redpath, Libertarian nominee for U.S. House in 2020 in the Sixth District, were not meritorious. Bixler v Illinois State Board of Elections, 2021 200458-U. Here is the 12-page order.
