The Los Angeles Times has this on-line article about Paul Merritt, an independent candidate for U.S. Senate in California in 2016. California publishes a Voters Pamphlet that is mailed to every registered voter. Candidates for U.S. Congress are permitted to write a campaign statement that is published in the pamphlet, although the candidate must pay for this service. In 2016 Paul Merritt paid for a statement which said in the heading that he is an independent candidate.

Secretary of State Alex Padilla censored out those words, and didn’t even tell Merritt what he had done. Merritt has charged that his free speech was violated, and also his due process was also violated. The lawsuit is still in U.S. District Court. The Los Angeles Times story is the first publicity his lawsuit has had.

On November 29, an NBC/Gen Forward poll was released. The respondents were limited to persons age 18-34. The results are that 71% of persons in that age group believe a new major party is needed; only 26% disagree. Men were slightly more likely to favor a new party than women.

Thanks to Political Wire for the link.

Alabama is holding a special election for U.S. Senate on December 12. On November 27, Alabama’s senior U.S. Senator, Richard Shelby, told reporters he already voted absentee, and he voted for a write-in candidate. See this story.