Alabama State Senator Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa) says that Alabama law requires the Governor to call a special election for U.S. Senate this year, instead of waiting until 2018. See this story. The Governor has already appointed State Attorney General Luther Strange to fill the seat that was left vacant when Jeff Sessions resigned from the Senate to become U.S. Attorney General.

No federal law requires states to hold special elections for U.S. Senate any earlier than the next regularly scheduled-election for congress. The law is very different for U.S. House vacancies than for U.S. Senate vacancies. Each state has its own law on special elections for Senate vacancies.

Currently, Montana requires presidential primary candidates to submit a petition of 500 signatures. Any registered voter may sign. Representative Bryce Bennett (D-Missoula) has introduced HB 288. It would permit candidates to avoid the petition if they pay a filing fee equal to 1% of the annual salary of a U.S. Senator, which is currently approximately $1,800.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders was on “Meet the Press” on February 12. He said he is not interested in starting a new party, and says he intends to try to improve the Democratic Party. See this story. Thanks to Irv Sutley for the link.