On Saturday morning, former Republican Congressman Vin Weber of Minnesota appeared on CNN and argued in favor of expanding entry into the general election presidential debates. Here is the transcript, as reported by Independent Political Report.
Weber is currently an advisor to Jeb Bush.
The Washington state legislature adjourned Friday evening, April 24. SB 5978, which had passed the Senate, did not pass the House. Therefore, the law providing for a mid-May presidential primary remains on the books, but it will probably not be held. In 2012 the Washington primary was cancelled for budgetary reasons, and because the two major parties preferred to use caucuses instead.
Washington state Democrats have already said they will use caucuses in 2016. The legislature comes back into special session on April 29 so it is possible the presidential primary will be brought up then.
SB 5978 would have provided for a March 8 presidential primary.
The Arkansas Libertarian Party now has almost 10,000 signatures on its petition to regain party status. The law requires 10,000 valid signatures, so the drive is more than half done. Assuming the drive succeeds, the party will then be on the ballot for president in 31 states. Four years ago this month, it was on in 27 states.
Bills have passed committees in both houses of the Nevada legislature for a presidential primary, which would replace the state’s caucuses. SB 421 passed the Senate Legislative Operations & Elections Committee on April 10, and AB 302 passed the Assembly Legislative Operations & Elections Committee on April 9.
The Senate bill is more specific and provides for a presidential primary on the last Tuesday of February, which would be February 23 in 2016. It seems to allow any candidate to appear on the ballot just by filing a declaration of candidacy. Only parties with 10% of the registration would have a presidential primary. Candidates would file in November of the year before the election. The Senate bill is sponsored by the Committee. The Assembly bill is sponsored by the Assembly Speaker, John Hambrick. According to this story, the state Republican Party now wants a presidential primary. Both houses of the Nevada legislature have Republican majorities and the state has a Republican Governor.
The Senate bill would move the primary for non-presidential office from June to February, in all even-numbered years, even midterm years. The Assembly bill would not affect the June primary for non-presidential office.
Alabama SB 221 is likely to receive a vote on the Senate floor during the week of April 27-May 1. Bills that have passed committee and are awaiting a Senate vote “stand in line”, and SB 221 is now number nine in the list. The Alabama Senate usually holds floor sessions on two days a week, and it is not possible to know which two days that will be in the coming week. SB 221 lowers the number of signatures for newly-qualifying parties and non-presidential independents from 3% of the last gubernatorial vote, to 1.5%. It also provides for a later petition deadline for new parties. Thanks to Joshua Cassity for this news.
