Maryland Libertarian Party Files Reply Brief in Ballot Access Case

Posted on by October 17, 2019
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On October 15, the Maryland Libertarian Party filed this brief in the Fourth Circuit in Johnston v Lamone, 19-1783. This is the case that argues that the state has no interest in requiring an unqualified party that has over 22,000 registered members to collect 10,000 signatures if it wants to get back on the ballot. The Libertarian Party feels it is obvious that it has at least 10,000 supporters in the state, because it has more than twice that many registrants. But the U.S. District Court upheld the Maryland law.

Rocky De La Fuente Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Take California Ballot Access Case

Posted on by October 22, 2019
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Rocky De La Fuente is in the process of filing this cert petition in the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the Court to review the Ninth Circuit decision that upheld California’s ballot access law for independent presidential candidates. No independent candidate petition in California has succeeded since 1992. Important presidential candidates who failed to use the procedure include Eugene McCarthy in 1976, Ralph Nader in 2004, and Evan McMullin in 2016. UPDATE: the case is 19-524. If the state wishes to respond, its brief is due November 21. Thanks to Thomas Jones for the update.

For 2020, California requires almost 200,000 valid signatures, to be collected in 105 days. The petition cannot begin to circulate until the presidential candidate has chosen his or her 55 presidential elector candidates, because the names of all of them must appear on the petition.

Rocky De La Fuente is First Person to Qualify for Delaware Presidential Primary

Posted on by October 17, 2019
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Delaware requires presidential primary candidates to file 500 valid signatures in order to be on a ballot. So far Rocky De La Fuente is the only presidential candidate who has filed the petition in Delaware. The state has checked his petition and it is valid. Here is a link to the state’s list. De La Fuente filed for the Republican presidential primary.

Two Individuals are Actively Seeking the Socialist Party’s Presidential Nomination

Posted on by October 17, 2019
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The Socialist Party will hold its national convention October 25-26, in Newark, New Jersey. Two individuals are actively seeking the presidential nomination. They are Howie Hawkins of Syracuse, New York; and Elijah Manley of Florida. Hawkins is also seeking the Green Party nomination.

Manley is either 20 years old, or 21 years old, and is a college student.

The Socialist Party convention will first vote on whether to have a presidential nominee. If that decision is to have a presidential nominee, then the convention will choose a nominee. That will happen on Saturday, October 26.

California Democratic Party, and Libertarian Party, Tell Secretary of State They Will Let Independents Vote in their 2020 Presidential Primary

Posted on by October 17, 2019
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The California Democratic Party, and the California Libertarian Party, have told the Secretary of State that they will allow independents to vote in their 2020 presidential primary. The American Independent Party had already made a similar decision.

The deadline for California parties to make this decision is Friday, October 18. It appears that the Republican, Green, and Peace & Freedom Parties will not invite independents to vote in their presidential primary. Thus the 2020 decisions mirror their 2016 decisions. Thanks to Mark Seidenberg for this news.