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Arizona Supreme Court Rules That No Labels Governor Candidate Can Remain on the Primary Ballot

Posted on May 5, 2026 by Bill RedpathMay 12, 2026

Hugh Lytle, a Scottsdale businessman and former walk on quarterback at Arizona State University, put the address of a UPS store at which he had a private mailbox, on his candidate form, even though the form mandated a residential address. The Supreme Court of Arizona has ruled that he may remain on the No Labels Party Primary ballot for Governor in Arizona this year. The Arizona Primary Election date is July 21, 2026.

Here is a story from The Arizona Daily Star.

Here is the Opinion. Beckman v Lytle, cv-26-0124.

The Hill Oped Says Two Party Dominance in the United States is Coming to an End

Posted on May 4, 2026 by Bill RedpathMay 4, 2026

Here is the column. And, thanks to Independent Political Report for giving us the heads up on this.

I wish I could be as optimistic as Colin Pascal. Legislators are slowly ratcheting up ballot access barriers. It will take more people willing to work for ballot access reform, as well as electoral changes to move away from our Single Member Plurality elections in this nation, in my opinion, which is not addressed in this oped.

Thoughtful Column in The Tennesseean on Conservatives’ Duty to Maintain Voting Access

Posted on May 4, 2026 by Bill RedpathMay 4, 2026

Columnist Cameron Smith opines that if conservatives want to raise verification standards for voter registration concomitant with that is a responsibility to help people meet those standards.

Here is the column.

I also thank Mr. Smith for using the term “voting access,” and not “ballot access,” a term that should be reserved for candidates’ ballot access.

Democracy Docket email Summarizes New Congressional Redistricting News

Posted on May 4, 2026 by Bill RedpathMay 4, 2026

The following was received in a Democracy Docket email of May 4, 2026:

Florida: Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) today signed a new GOP-drawn map that could give Republicans four extra seats in Congress. Voters have already sued to block it.
Alabama: Alabama is preparing to eliminate majority-Black districts while moving forward with an election it may later have to annul. Its special session to redraw started today, even though the state currently has a court-ordered map in place until 2030.
Tennessee: Starting tomorrow, a special session will begin to eliminate the state’s one remaining Democratic stronghold in Memphis.
Louisiana: The state halted an active election to get rid of Black-majority districts, but Democrats are fighting back. Also, civil rights groups said this legal principle prevents Louisiana from suspending elections when votes have already been cast.
South Carolina: Despite GOP pressure for a special session, today Gov. Henry McMaster’s (R) office said he won’t be calling one, the Post and Courier reported.
Virginia: We are waiting for the Virginia Supreme Court to determine whether a Democratic-backed redistricting plan — approved by voters last month — will go into effect. The State Board of Elections is currently blocked from certifying the referendum pending further instruction from the state’s highest court. The board is required by law to certify the results by May 5.
New York: House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) announced today a new initiative to explore redrawing the state’s congressional districts.
New Jersey: Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) is also considering redistricting to combat Republicans. “If Trump is going to attack fair voting, then New Jersey is going to stand up so that we can create a counterbalance,” Sherrill said.

New Congressional Redistricting Map in Signed into Law by Florida Governor

Posted on May 4, 2026 by Bill RedpathMay 4, 2026

Sometimes news is not a surprise, and this is such a story. Four US House seats may flip to Republican candidates with the bill that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed today.

Here is a story from Politico.

Thanks again to Political Wire, where I first saw this, for doing what you do!