The only individual who filed for the Montana Libertarian U.S. Senate primary dropped out on the deadline day, leaving the party with no candidate. But according to this news story, the party has the legal right to choose a new nominee. The article explores the possibility that the individual who dropped out was planning the move with the ulterior motive of leaving the party with no nominee.
On March 16, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it is postponing all its remaining March 2016 oral arguments, until some unspecified later date. This includes the case Carney v Adams, 19-309, the case over the Delaware law that says most judicial appointments can only be made to individuals who are registered Republicans or registered Democrats. The oral argument was set for March 25 but now it is delayed.
On March 13, Hillary Clinton filed this 26-page brief, explaining why Tulsi Gabbard’s defamation lawsuit should be dismissed. The case is Gabbard v Clinton, s.d.N.Y., 1:20cv-558.
On March 14, Governor Andrew Cuomo cut the New York primary petition requirements to 30% of normal. However, he also moved the petition deadline from April 2 to March 17, 5 p.m. See this story.
The order apparently has no effect on general election petitions. The petitioning period for them runs from early April to late May. That deadline had been in August until the 2019 session of the legislature moved it to May. That deadline is almost certainly unconstitutional, but so far no lawsuits have been filed against that deadline, as far as is known.
On March 14, the Georgia Secretary of State said he has moved the presidential primary from March 24 to May 19. The state was already expecting to hold its non-presidential primary on May 19, so that day’s ballot will now include president as well as other partisan office. Thanks to Mike Drucker for this news.
