On June 25, Lance Lehmann, a registered Libertarian, was elected to the Board of Aldermen in Rapid City, South Dakota. He had placed first on June 4, but no one had a majority on that day, so a runoff was held three weeks later, which Lehmann won.
The U.S. Supreme Court issued three opinions on Wednesday, June 26, but the gerrymander decisions were not issued. But all five remaining U.S. Supreme Court decisions will be released tomorrow, Thursday, June 27.
The Nebraska Secretary of State has a new voter registration tally. The percentages are: Republican 47.94%; Democratic 29.51%; Libertarian 1.25%; independents and others 21.30%.
Just prior to the November 2018 election, the percentages were: Republican 47.96%; Democratic 29.55%; Libertarian 1.17%; independents and others 21.32%.
New York bills to make it easier for candidates to withdraw from the general election failed to pass the legislature, before the legislature adjourned. S5462 had passed the Senate but did not receive a vote in the Assembly.
The bill would have helped individuals who accept minor party nominations before the major party primaries, and then those same individuals lose their major party primary. Typically such candidates then no longer wish to run in the general election, but they have a very difficult time removing their names (as minor party nominees) from the November ballot. Generally they can only withdraw by accepting the nomination of some party to run for a partisan judicial office.
Several Pennsylvania Senators have introduced SB 779, which would move the primary for all office, but only in presidential years, from late April to late March. However, if passed, the bill would not take effect until 2024.
