The only California U.S. Senate debate that was open to all ballot-listed candidates was held on Sunday, May 16. Here is a 3-minute television news report about the debate, from KSBW in Monterey.
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On May 8, the ballot-qualified Liberty Union Party nominated Gloria La Riva for President and Eugene Puryear for Vice-President. They are also the nominees of the Party for Socialism & Liberation this year. The ticket will now be on the Vermont ballot automatically, without the need for a petition.
Liberty Union nominated the Socialist Party ticket in 2012, but was unable to have that ticket on the November ballot because the Vermont legislature had moved up the deadline for a ballot-qualified convention party to choose its national nominees, to May. The party was taken by surprise by that deadline change.
Liberty Union always nominates a presidential candidate who is the nominee of some other party on the left. In 1972 and 1976 it nominated the Peoples Party national nominees, although due to some election law problem in 1976, Liberty Union’s choice for President didn’t appear on the ballot.
In 1980, 1988, 1996, 2000, and 2008, Liberty Union nominated the Socialist Party’s presidential ticket. In 1984 and 1992 it nominated the New Alliance ticket. In 2004 it nominated the Workers World ticket.
Liberty Union is the first one-state party to nominate a presidential candidate this year.
The New York Times has this lengthy obituary of Paul Boutelle, who was the Socialist Workers Party vice-presidential nominee in 1968. The obituary even has a picture, which is somewhat rare for Times obituaries.
Boutelle changed his name in 1979 to Kwame Somburu. He left the Socialist Workers Party and joined Socialist Action. He died at the age of 81, in Albany, New York, on May 3, 2016.
On May 12, U.S. District Court Judge Amul R. Thapar, a Bush Jr. appointee, struck down some Kentucky regulations that inhibit speech by judges and judicial candidates. Kentucky elects all its state judges in non-partisan elections. The case is Winter v Wolnitzek, e.d., 14-119.
The invalidated regulations: (1) ban judicial candidates from campaigning as a member of a political organization; (2) ban judicial candidates from making speeches for or against a political organization or candidate; (3) ban them from contributing to a party or a candidate; (4) ban them from engaging in any other political activity except activity on behalf of measures to improve; (5) bans them from making pledges or promises with regard to issues. Thanks to Chris Wiest for this news.
The California Secretary of State has revised the latest registration data. The original “Report of Registration”, issued May 12, did not have current data for the Reform Party, but now it does. It also now includes the Constitution Party. See the revised version here.
The Reform Party has 14,634 registered members. Although this is far short of the 60,000 or so needed to qualify for the presidential ballot, it is still a substantial showing. The deadline for the Reform Party, or any other group, to attain the goal is July 11.