Pennsylvania Special Legislative Elections

Posted on by May 19, 2021
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On May 18, Pennsylvania held special elections in four legislative districts. In State Senate 22, the percentages were: Democratic 51.18%; Republican 38.45%; Green 9.22%; Libertarian 1.15%. That was the second-highest showing for a Green Party nominee for the Pennsylvania legislature, in races with both major parties, in the party’s history. The only legislative race in which a Pennsylvania Green did better (in a race with both major parties) was in 2010, when the Green polled 18.50% in the 194th state house district.

When this seat was last up, in November 2018, the percentages were: Democratic 61.33%; Republican 38.67%.

In State Senate 48, the percentages were: Republican 62.33%; Democratic 29.91%; independent 4.72%; Libertarian 3.04%. When this seat was last up, in November 2018, the percentages were: Republican 62.94%; Democratic 37.06%.

In State House 59, the percentages were: Republican 65.48%; Democratic 32.02%; Libertarian 2.50%. When this seat was last up, in November 2020, only a Republican ran.

In State House 60, the percentages were: Republican 76.39%; Democratic 19.38%; Libertarian 4.22%. When this seat was last up, in November 2020, only a Republican ran. See more details here.

Two High-Ranking Mississippi Officials Want Governor to Call a Special Session to Save the Initiative Process

Posted on by May 18, 2021
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According to this story, the Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives, and the Lieutenant Governor, favor calling a special session of the legislature to save the initiative process. The Governor says he will decide soon on whether to call a special session of the legislature to restore the initiative process.

Five Georgia County Election Board Members Sue State Over New Law Shifting Power from County Boards to State Election Board

Posted on by May 18, 2021
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On May 17, five Georgia county election board members, and other groups and individuals, filed a federal lawsuit against the part of SB 202 that allows the State Election Board to remove county election boards and take complete control of election administration in such counties. The lawsuit challenges other parts of SB 202 as well. Coalition for Good Governance v Raffensperger, n.d., 1:21cv-2070.

The Complaint is 206 pages long. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.

Buddy Roemer Dies

Posted on by May 18, 2021
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On May 17, former Louisiana Congressman and Governor Buddy Roemer died at the age of 77. See this obituary. He had been the leading candidate for the presidential nomination of Americans Elect in 2012. Americans Elect was a new party that had placed itself on the ballot in most states during 2011 and early 2012. Its rules said that any registered voter could vote in the party’s private on-line presidential primary, and if any candidate received at least 10,000 votes, the party would nominate whomever placed first. But Roemer only received 6,293 votes, more than anyone else who had sought the nomination, but not enough to be deemed nominated. Therefore Americans Elect had no candidate in the 2012 presidential election and asked state election officials to remove it from the list of qualified parties.

Americans Elect also let its primary voters vote for someone who had not declared for the nomination. Ron Paul received the most votes of any person. He received 9,498 votes, but even if he had met the threshold, he probably would have refused to run.

Thanks to Independent Political Report for the news.