Iowa Special State Senate Election Results

Posted on by December 31, 2014
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On December 30, Iowa held a special election for State Senate, 12th district. The results: Republican Mark Costello 74.41%; Democrat Steven Adams 22.41%; Libertarian Don W. Brantz 3.18%. Here is a link to the returns on the Secretary of State’s web page.

This is the first time in recent decades that the Iowa Libertarian Party has run a legislative candidate in southwest Iowa. In 2012, when this seat was last up, Republican Joni Ernst was the only candidate on the November ballot. The special election was needed because Ernst resigned to take her seat in Congress.

Associated Press Story on Minnesota’s Independence Party Losing its Qualified Status

Posted on by December 31, 2014
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The Associated Press has this story, saying the Minnesota Secretary of State has formally notified the Independence Party that it has lost its qualified status, something it has enjoyed for twenty years. The party needed to poll 5% for one of the statewide offices. The party was very unlucky, polling only 4.9% for Secretary of State. Its other statewide results were: Governor-Lieutenant Governor 2.9%; U.S. Senator 2.4%; Auditor 4.0%; Attorney General 2.3%.

The party is free to ask the legislature to ease the 5% vote test. The median vote test in the 50 states is 2%.

After Four Recounts, Tie Vote Exists for Recorder of Deeds in Kent County, Delaware

Posted on by December 31, 2014
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County Recorder of Deeds is a partisan elected office in Delaware. At the November 2014 election, Kent County held an election for this office, which resulted in a tie vote. There have been four recounts. See this story. According to Delaware law, the Governor will now appoint someone to the position.

Kent County is the least populated of Delaware’s three counties, and contains the state capital, Dover. Thanks to Electionline for the link.

New Hampshire Libertarian Party Wins Procedural Ruling

Posted on by December 30, 2014
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On December 30, U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro, a Bush Sr. appointee, declined to dismiss the lawsuit Libertarian Party of New Hampshire v Gardner, 1:14cv-322. The case was filed in July 2014 and challenges the new law that made it illegal for the party petition to circulate during an odd year. The state tried to persuade the judge that the new law is constitutional as a matter of law, and that there shouldn’t be a trial or any evidence-gathering. But the court ruled that the case needs more facts before it can be decided. Here is the 13-page ruling.