On April 6, independent congressional candidate James Hall filed this brief in the Eleventh Circuit in Hall v Merrill, 16-16766. The issue is whether the state can require a difficult petition for an independent candidate in a special election, when the time for gathering signatures is severely shortened. Hall won the case in U.S. District Court last year, and the state is trying to get that decision reversed.
The U.S. District Court that is evaluating Montana’s ballot access laws for independent candidates in special U.S. House elections hasn’t ruled, as of 9:00 p.m. Thursday, April 6. The decision could come out in the middle of the night, but it is more likely to be released in business hours on Friday, April 7. The case is Breck v Stapleton, 9:17cv-36. The election is in May.
On April 6, the Republican and Green nominees for state House, Pennsylvania 197th district, filed a federal lawsuit to overturn the March 21 special election. Little v Vazquez, e.d., 17-cv-1562. The case is assigned to Judge Joel Slomsky, a Bush Sr. appointee.
On April 4, the Delaware House passed HB 89, which moves the primary for all office from September to April. However, the House amended the bill so that it doesn’t change the deadline for minor parties to make their nominations. Under the amended bill, their convention can remain as late as August.
The vote on the bill was 34-6. Now the bill goes to the Senate.
Gravis Marketing has released a poll for the Montana special U.S. House election being held in May. The pollsters include Thomas Breck, the Green Party nominee, even though no one knows yet if he will be on the ballot. A U.S. District Court will decide any time now whether he is on the ballot.
The poll results are: Republican Greg Gianforte 50%; Democrat Rob Quist 38%; Libertarian Mark Wicks 3%; Breck 2%; uncertain 7%. Thanks to Michael for the link.
