Colorado Secretary of State Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Hear “Faithless Electors” Case

Posted on by October 17, 2019
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On October 16, Colorado asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Colorado Department of State v Baca. This is the case in which the Tenth Circuit ruled that presidential electors have a right to vote for anyone for president who meets the constitutional qualifications.

Both such cases are now before the U.S. Supreme Court. The other one is from Washington state.

Here is Colorado’s cert petition. It argues that the electors didn’t have standing to file this case, and it also argues the merits of the case. The U.S. Supreme Court hasn’t assigned a case number yet. Thanks to Daniel Ong for this news.

California Supreme Court Will Hear Presidential Tax Returns-Ballot Case on Wednesday, November 6

Posted on by October 16, 2019
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The California Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Patterson v Padilla on November 6, at 9 a.m., in Sacramento. This is the case on whether the California Constitution prevents the state from requiring presidential candidates to reveal their tax returns, if they want to be on a presidential primary ballot.

Although a U.S. District Court already enjoined the law on federal constitutional grounds, the state is appealing the federal case. The State Supreme Court case is based on the state constitution.

New London, Connecticut, Green Nominee for Mayor Included in Debate Even Though She is a Write-in Candidate

Posted on by October 16, 2019
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New London, Connecticut, holds a mayoral election on November 5, 2019. The election is partisan. There are three candidates, including Green Party nominee Frida Berrigan. The New London League of Women Voters sponsored a mayoral debate and invited Berrigan, even though she is not on the ballot; instead she is a declared write-in candidate. See this story.

She had enough valid signatures, but some of the paperwork sent to the election authorities was lost in the postal mail, so she lost her spot on the ballot.

Willie Wilson, a Democratic Presidential Candidate in 2016, Loses Lawsuit Against the Democratic National Committee

Posted on by October 16, 2019
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On September 27, U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, ruled against Willie Wilson in his lawsuit against the Democratic National Committee. Wilson v DNC Services, D.C., 1:17cv-730. Here is the opinion.

Wilson was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016. He sued the national Democratic Party because it refused to give him the party’s national voter list. The party only gave the list to Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, based on the party’s belief that only those two candidates were likely to make a strong showing for the party’s nomination. The opinion says the party was free to make that decision.

Wilson also sued because at a campaign event before the South Carolina Democratic primary, he was blocked from the stage by the Secret Service. The opinion says that even though the Hillary Clinton campaign may have influenced the Secret Service to do this, that is not the fault of the Democratic National Committee.