The Word “Socialist” Has Almost Disappeared from U.S. Ballots

Posted on by October 8, 2018
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For federal and state office in November 2018, there is only one candidate with the word “socialist” next to his or her name. She is Maia Dendinger, Socialist Party nominee, running for Maine state senate, 5th ditrict.

The Socialist Equality Party has a candidate for congress in Michigan, but because it didn’t do the statewide petition, its candidate must have “independent” as a ballot label. It also ran two candidates in California, but because of the top-two system, they are not on the November ballot. And even in the primary, they were forced to have the label “party preference: none.”

The Freedom Socialist Party had a candidate on the Washington primary ballot for U.S. Senate, but he also was not able to be on the November ballot.

The Socialist Alternative Party has in the recent past run candidates for the Washington legislature, but it did not do so this year.

Socialist Action tried to place a candidate on the Connecticut ballot, but its petition was a few hundred signatures short.

The Socialist Workers Party has nominated twenty candidates for federal or state office, but none of them is on the ballot.

Big Increase in Number of Democratic Legislative Candidates

Posted on by October 7, 2018
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In the November 2018 election, Democrats have a candidate in 87.9% of the legislative contests. This is a big increase for the Democratic Party. In 2016, it had candidates in 79.4% of the races. In 2014, it had 77.1%. In 2012, 78.9%.

The Republican Party also has more candidates for the legislature this year than in 2016. This year, Republican are in 79.2%. In 2016, 78.8%. In 2014, 79.6%. In 2012, 81.2%.

Only four state units of the major parties have candidates in fewer than half the districts: the Republican Parties of Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island; and the Democratic Party of Wyoming.

The Libertarians have 5.9% this year; 4.9% in 2016; 4.3% in 2014; and also 4.3% in 2012.

This year, there are independent candidates in 3.6% of the districts; in 2016, 3.9%.

New York State Elections Board Squeezes Nominees of SAM Party and Libertarian Party Into the Same Ballot Row

Posted on by October 6, 2018
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Here is the November 2018 sample ballot for New York state upstate counties. Even though this is a paper ballot, which could easily list all the gubernatorial candidates in a single column, this ballot puts the SAM Party nominee for Governor and the Libertarian nominee for Governor in the same row. Every other party has its own row.

The SAM Party has no candidates for any office except Governor/Lieutenant Governor, but the Libertarian Party has candidates for two other statewide offices, Attorney General and Comptroller.

North Dakota Holds Televised Debate for All Three Ballot-Listed Candidates for Secretary of State

Posted on by October 6, 2018
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On September 12, a televised debate was held for all three candidates who are on the ballot for Secretary of State. The three candidates are Democratic nominee Josh Boschee, and the two independent candidates, Al Jaeger and Michael Coachman. See this story. There is no Republican nominee, both both independent candidates have close ties to the Republican Party.

Oregon Legislative Candidate Danny Jaffer is the Nominee of Five Political Parties

Posted on by October 6, 2018
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Danny Jaffer is running for Oregon State House, 23rd district, against an incumbent Republican. Jaffer went to the trouble to win the nomination of five parties: Democratic, Independent Party, Pacific Green, Progressive, and Working Families. He is believed to be the first person in Oregon to have that many nominations. Here is his web page, which mentions all of the parties.

His opponents are Republican Mike Nearman, and Libertarian Mark Karnowski. In 2016, no Democrat ran for this seat. The district includes parts of Polk, Benton, Yamhill, and Marion Counties.

Oregon legalized fusion in 2009.