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Georgia Special Elections

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Richard WingerMarch 12, 2026

On March 10, Georgia held special elections for one U.S. House seat and three state legislative seats. Here are the Secretary of State’s webpage results.

For U.S. House, 14th district, no one received a majority, so there will be a runoff in April. The three Democrats combined got 39.81%. In November 2024, the Democratic nominee had received 35.63%.

For State Senate, 53rd district, various Democrats received 26.99%. In November 2024 the Democratic nominee had received 21.23%.

For State Representative, 130th district, no comparison is possible because in November 2024 the Democratic nominee had been the only candidate on the ballot.

Missouri State Trial Court Says Legislature Did Not Violate State Constitution When it passed Redistricting

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Richard WingerMarch 12, 2026

On March 12, a Missouri state trial court ruled that the Missouri Constitution does not bar mid-district redistricting. Wise v State of Missouri, Circuit Court, Jackson Cuonty, 2516-cv31273. Here is the decision.

New Hampshire Special Legislative Election

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Richard WingerMarch 12, 2026

On March 10, New Hampshire held a special election to fill the vacant State House seat in the Carroll County 7th district. The results: Democratic 51.9%; Republican 48.1%. When this seat had last been up, in November 2024, the results had been: Republican 56.8%; Democratic 43.2%.

Delaware Bill To Move Non-Presidential Primary from August to an Earlier Month Gets Committee Hearing

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Richard WingerMarch 12, 2026

On March 11, the Delaware Senate Executive Committee heard Delaware HB 65. It moves the non-presidential primary from September to the date of the presidential primary, whatever that date of the presidential primary turns out to be; the bill doesn’t specify. Currently the Delaware presidential primaries are in April but they might be moved to an earlier month. HB 65 passed the House last year. Delaware has two-year legislative sessions.

If this bill passes, the deadline for a group to qualify a new party will be much earlier, possibly even as early as January of the election year. This is because the deadline for a new party to qualify is tied to the date of the non-presidential primary. Delaware is in the Third Circuit, which ruled in 1997 in Council of Alternative Parties v Hooks that the New Jersey deadline for new party candidates could not be earlier than the date of the non-presidential primary. 121 F 3d 876.

Alabama Bill for Closed Primaries Gets a Hearing

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Richard WingerMarch 12, 2026

On March 3, seventeen Alabama representatives, all Republicans, introduced HB 541. It mandates closed primaries, and does not give a party the option to let independents vote in its primary. It also sets very restrictive for voters to enroll in parties. They could register into a party that is entitled to its own primary. Thus, even if a new party got on the ballot, no one could register into it until after it had polled 20% of the vote for a statewide office. See page six of the bill.

The House Committee on Ethics and Campaign Finance heard the bill on March 11. See this story.

Courts in Colorado, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, and Oklahoma have ruled that it violates the First Amendment to forbid a voter from registering into an unqualified party.