On May 1, a New York state trial court dismissed a lawsuit against the Brooklyn (Kings County) Democratic Party. The party rules specify that all candidates for County Committe must file as “male” or “female”. See this story. Other county units of the Democratic Party in New York state don’t have such rules.
On May 1, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued new emergency regulations and rules for various election procedures. But the May 1 order does not set a new petitioning period for independent candidate petitions, or petitions for the nominees of unqualified parties. The May 1 order says at the bottom that a future order will set the petitioning period.
On May 1, Andrew Yang filed a second amended complaint, which now lists as defendants the various officers and members of the New York State Board of Elections. This concerns his lawsuit against the state for cancelling the Democratic presidential primary. The case is now called Yang v Kellner, s.d., 1:20cv-3325. The original complaint was legally flawed because it only listed the State Board of Elections as the Defendant, instead of naming particular individuals who are part of the State Board.
The Defendants’ deadline for an answer is May 22, but it is likely Yang will move to expedite the case.
Congressman Justin Amash is now listed in the Congressional Directory as a Libertarian. He is the first member to list himself as a member of a nationally-organized party, other than the Democratic and Republican Parties, since Congressman Vito Marcantonio was listed as an American Labor Party member. Marcantonio left Congress after he was defeated for re-election in 1950. The American Labor Party was the New York state affiliate of the Progressive Party that was founded early in 1948 by Henry Wallace.
Ron Paul always listed himself in the Congressional Directory as a Republican. John Anderson continued to list himself as a Republican all during 1980, even though he was running for president as an independent that year.
The Federal Election Commission has again revised its chart that shows primary dates for federal office, and candidate filing deadlines. See it here. Thanks to Thomas Jones for the link.
