Working Class Party, and Libertarian Party, Poll Enough Votes for a Primary in Michigan in 2018

Michigan required parties to poll at least 154,040 votes for a statewide race this year, in order to qualify for a primary in 2018. Both the Working Class Party and the Libertarian Party had some statewide candidates who exceeded this total. The Working Class Party only had one statewide candidate, and she polled 224,106 votes for State Board of Education.

Libertarian statewide candidates who exceeded that number include Gary Johnson for President, and two Libertarian nominees for statewide educational posts.

Even without qualifying for a primary, the two parties would have been on the 2018 ballot in any case, but if their votes had been smaller, they would have nominated by convention.

No presidential primary will be provided for either party in 2020, even if they are still entitled to a primary for other office in 2020. Michigan presidential primaries are only given to parties that polled 5% of the nationwide presidential vote. The Reform Party in 2000 is the only Michigan party that ever had a presidential primary. That primary was won by Donald Trump, who was seeking the Reform Party nomination early in 2000.

Libertarian Legislator in Nevada Defeated for Re-Election

One of the Libertarian Party’s four state legislators, John Moore, was running for re-election this week. He was defeated. He received 6.8% of the vote; his Democratic opponent Jason Frierson was elected with 56.1%; and his Republican opponent, Norm Ross, received 37.1%.

Moore had never been elected as a Libertarian. He had won in 2014 as the Republican nominee, but then had changed parties.

Colorado Initiative to Let Independent Voters Vote in Party Primaries Passes

On November 8, Colorado voters passed Initiative 108 by 52.4% – 47.6%. It requires the Democratic and Republican Parties to allow independent voters to vote in partisan primaries. Also, voters passed Initiative 107 by a large margin, 63.7% – 36.3%. It restores a presidential primary for Colorado. In recent years Colorado has used caucuses instead of presidential primaries.

For First Time, Guam Votes for the Presidential Candidate Who Didn’t Win

Starting in 1980, Guam has an advisory vote for president in November. Here are the 2016 results: Hillary Clinton 22,972; Donald Trump 7,747; Emidio Soltysik, Socialist Party nominee, 1,352. This is the first time the Guam voted has voted against the person who became president. Scroll down to the bottom for the presidential results. Thanks to Matt Erard for the link.