Federal Election Commission Publishes Book of 2022 Congressional Election Returns

The Federal Election Commission has finally published Federal Elections 2022. This is a 145-page book of election returns for 2022, for congressional primaries and elections. The FEC has been publishing these free books of election returns, every two years, starting in 1980.

These books are published very slowly. Note this is the 2022 book, not the 2024 book.

To obtain a copy, telephone the FEC at 800=424-9530, and choose the second phone prompt.

American Solidarity Party Joins the California Lawsuit Against Top-Two

On February 21, the plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit against the California top-two system filed an amended Complaint. See it here. Peace & Freedom Party v Weber, n.d., 3:24cv-08308.

The American Solidarity Party has joined the case. It has run for partisan offices in California, such as Governor, U.S. Senator, Secretary of State, and U.S. House. But because it is not a qualified party, when its members run in the primary, the ballot label is “Party preference: none” even though they are registered members of the American Solidarity Party. Therefore, the case now has a new issue, the ballot label issue.

West Virginia Bill to Require Independent Candidates to File a Declaration of Candidacy in January

Seven West Virginia Republican Delegates have introduced HB 2608. It requires independent candidates to file a declaration of candidacy by the second Monday in January of an election year. The sponsors are Rick Hillenbrand, Bill Ridenour, Charles Sheedy, Eric Brooks, Joe Funkhouser, Lisa White, and Margitta Mozzoocchi.

A similar West Virginia law was struck down in 2016 in Daly v Tennant, 216 F Supp 3d 699 (s.d.). The state did not appeal. Also, the Fourth Circuit struck down a similar South Carolina in 1990, in Cromer v State, 917 F 2d 810, and West Virginia is in the Fourth Circuit. Thanks to Jeff Becker for news about the bill.