On April 30, the federal government asked the U.S. Supreme Court for a fifth extension of time in which to respond to National Republican Senatorial Committee v Federal Election Commission, 24-621. Here is the request. This is the case over the federal campaign finance law that limits how much money parties can donate to the campaigns of their own nominees, assuming the party and the candidate are coordinating with each other.

The lower courts had upheld the limits, because the U.S. Supreme Court had upheld them several decades ago. The plaintiff Republican Senatorial Committee hopes to persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to change its mind. The old decision decades ago had been 5-4.

The Clerk of the U.S. House has published Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 5, 2024. It has the election returns for the general election, for president and both houses of Congress. The Clerk has been publishing a similar book ever since 1920.

Anyone can obtain a free copy by phoning 202-226-5200. It is also available on-line.

On April 29, the Second Circuit heard oral argument in Walden v Kosinski, 25-764. The issue is the 2022 New York law that makes it illegal for an independent candidate to choose the ballot label “Independence.” The plaintiff is a candidate for Mayor this year and is petitioning to be on the November ballot under that name.

The three judges are Alison Nathan, Gerard Lynch (Obama appointees) and Eunice Lee (Biden). The argument lasts 47 minutes. Anyone can hear the oral argument using this link. Click on “2025”. Then click on “25-76” on the left, in the fourth line labelled Walden v Kosinski.