There are now two interesting election law bills pending in the New Mexico legislature. HB 79 would let independent voters vote in partisan primaries. SB 100 would legalize fusion. Thanks to Rick Lass for this news.
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On January 22, filing closed for the two special U.S. House elections in Louisiana set for March. Here is a link to the candidate list.
The Second District has 15 candidates: eight Democrats, four Republicans, one Libertarian, one member of the Independent Party, and one independent.
The Fifth District has 13 candidates: nine Republicans, two Democrats, one member of the Independent Party, and one independent.
The Maryland State Board of Elections has released registration totals for December 31, 2020. See it here. Scroll down. The percentages are: Democratic 54.87%; Republican 24.71%; Libertarian .37%; Green .14%; Working Class .05%; Bread & Roses .03%; independent and miscellaneous 19.84%.
Percentages on September 30, 2020, were: Democratic 54.99%; Republican 24.74%; Libertarian .34%; Green .14%; Working Class .04%; Bread & Roses .02%; independent and miscellaneous 19.73%.
Matt Welch has this lengthy article about the possibility that former President Donald Trump might try to start a new party, which he has already said might be named the Patriot Party. The story is in Reason Magazine.
Louisiana will hold two special U.S. House elections on March 20. All candidates get on the ballot by paying a fee. Party labels are permitted if the candidate is a member of a qualified party. Qualified parties in Louisiana are Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, Green, and Independent.
If no one gets 50%, there is a runoff.
The qualifying period for both elections is January 20-January 22. As of the evening of January 21, in the Second District, there are seven Democrats, three Republicans, a member of the Independent Party, and a Libertarian. In the Fifth District, there are six Republicans and a Democrat.