Socialist Workers Party Candidate Appears at Top of List of Candidates for California Governor in Voter Guide

The California Secretary of State has released a tentative list of candidates for governor in the September 14 recall election. The Socialist Workers Party candidate, Dennis Richter, appears at the top of the list. Order of candidates was determined by a random drawing of letters of the alphabet, and “R” placed first. However, on the ballot itself (as opposed to the Voter Information Guide), the names of candidates are rotated by Assembly district.

The tentative copy of the Voter Information Guide, which is postally mailed to every registered voter who has not opted out of receiving the booklet, can be seen here. The instructions for candidates say, “Please list your political party preference as it is reflected on your current affidavit of registration. If you are not registered with a qualified political party, your political party preference will be indicated in the Voter Information Guide as ‘no qualified party preference’.”

Candidates are free to buy space in the Guide for a campaign statement. Minor party members who bought space for a statement are Jeffrey Hewitt, the Libertarian; both Greens, Heather Collins and Dan Kapelovitz; Michael Loebs of the California National Party; James G. Hanink of the American Solidarity Party; and Dennis Richter of the Socialist Workers Party.

Number of Candidates Qualified for California September 2021 Gubernatorial Election Ranges from 33 to 41

Politico says 41 candidates have qualified for the California recall gubernatorial ballot. See this story. The list is not yet official. Politico says Larry Elder, a Republican somewhat well-known for his radio show, did not qualify; but the story also says that Elder says he did qualify. Thanks to Political Wire for the link. UPDATE: the Secretary of State’s tentative list only lists 33 candidates.

Illinois Voters Argue that New Legislative Redistricting Plan, Passed Before Census Data is Available, is Illegal

The U.S. Census Bureau won’t release 2020 census data until mid-August 2021. The only state that has done its legislative redistricting already is Illinois, which used census estimates to draw the new lines. Last month, some Illinois Republican leaders, and also some Illinois voters represented by the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund, both filed federal lawsuits, saying the state can’t draw valid districts until the actual census results are released.

The Republican case is McConchie v Illinois State Board of Elections, n.d., 1:21cv-3091. The MALDEF case is Contreras v Illinois State Board of Elections, n.d., 1:21cv-3139. Both cases have been consolidated. A three-judge panel heard preliminary arguments on July 14.

The Illinois legislature has not yet drawn any U.S. House districts.

Local Initiative Proponents in Bridgeport, Ohio, Sue Village Clerk for Refusing to Accept Petition

On July 16, proponents of a local initiative in Bridgeport, Ohio, asked the State Supreme Court to order the village clerk to accept their initiative. The initiative lowers the penalty for marijuana possession to the lowest level allowed by state law. The case is State of Ohio ex rel William Schmitt v Village of Bridgeport, 2021-0878.

Three times the proponents brought their completed petitions to the clerk, and each time he refused to accept them. Here is the complaint.

Bridgeport is in Belmont County, across the Ohio River from Wheeling, West Virginia.