Emmanuel Macron, an independent candidate for President of France, is leading in at least one public opinion poll, according to this story. The election is April 23. If no one gets 50%, there is a run-off two weeks later. In second place is Marine LePen of the National Front, a party that has shown considerable strength during the past decade, but which has never elected the President of France.
The nominees of the two major parties are trailing.
On March 7, New Mexico SB 42 passed the House State Government, Indian & Veterans Affairs Committee by a vote of 5-4. It had already passed the Senate. Now it goes to the House Elections Committee. Thanks to Rick Lass for this information.
On March 8, the Federal Election Commission issued this press release, saying the FEC won’t appeal the February 1 decision of a U.S. District Court in Level the Playing Field v FEC. That is the decision that ordered the FEC to closely examine whether the Commission on Presidential Debates is breaking federal campaign finance law. Thanks to Shawn Griffiths for the link.
On February 16, South Carolina U.S. House member Mick Mulvaney resigned to become Director of the Office of Management & Budget. South Carolina will hold a special election in his 5th district to replace him on June 20.
The Republican Party will hold a primary to choose its nominee on May 2. If no one gets 50%, there will be a run-off primary on May 16. Candidates who want a party nomination (whether the party nominates by primary or convention) file by noon on March 13. So far four Republicans, but no Democrats, have filed. Independent candidates need 10,000 signatures by April 21.
The only minor party candidate who has filed so far is Josh Putnam of the American Party. See this story about him. Thanks to Jack Dean for the link.
A lawsuit has been filed in Alabama state court, to force the state to hold a special U.S. Senate election this year, to fill the seat of former U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions. See this story. The governor already filled the seat with the Attorney General, Luther Strange, and said there won’t be a special election for this seat until November 2018. The plaintiffs point to an Alabama law that seems to require a special election sooner than that.
