On June 4, Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed SB 631. Among other election law changes, it raises filing fees for candidates. Presidential primary fees go from $1,000 to $5,000. Statewide non-presidential office goes from $200 to $500. U.S. House and State Senate from $100 to $300. State House from $50 to $150. Thanks to Ken Bush for this news.
South Carolina State House member Jonathon Hill (R-Townville) has filed a lawsuit in state court against the South Carolina Republican Party, charging that it is contributing to the campaign of his primary opponent. The primary is June 9. See this story.
In 1989, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously struck down a California law that required parties to be neutral in their own primaries. No one mentioned in the story seems to be aware of that decision, Eu v San Francisco County Democratic Central Committee, 489 US 214.
Rocky De La Fuente is the presidential nominee of the Alliance Party. According to the Alliance Party’s June newsletter, the ballot-qualified Natural Law Party of Michigan has decided to nominate De La Fuente as well.
The Natural Law Party of Michigan uses its ballot status to nominate someone for president every presidential election year. The Natural Law Party always chooses some presidential candidate who is running nationwide, and who needs the party’s help in being listed in Michigan. In 2016 the Natural Law Party nominated Socialist Party nominee Emidio Soltysik. In 2012 it nominated Rocky Anderson, nominee of the Justice Party. In 2008 it nominated independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader. In 2004 it nominated Socialist nominee Walt Brown. For prior years, the Natural Law Party existed nationwide, so naturally the Michigan Natural Law Party nominated the party’s national nominee, John Hagelin.
Thanks to Independent Political Report for this news.
This New York Daily News op-ed says the New York State Board of Elections is continuing to remove candidates from the ballot for the most picayune reasons, and gives examples.
This story says the Republican National Committee appears to favor keeping the “official business” of the Republican National Convention in Charlotte, while finding another city to host a rally in which President Trump would accept his nomination.
