Plunderbund, Ohio Politics Blog, Publicizes John Kasich’s Treatment of Ohio Libertarian Party with Kasich’s Own Ballot Access Woes in Pennsylvania

Posted on by March 11, 2016
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Plunderbund, an Ohio politics blog since 2005, has this story linking John Kasich’s elimination of his Libertarian opponent for Governor in 2014 to Kasich’s own petition troubles this month in Pennsylvania. Kasich’s campaign admits it didn’t submit enough valid signatures in Pennsylvania to be on the Republican presidential primary. Whether he appears on the Pennsylvania ballot depends on whether the challenge to his petition was submitted on time or not. A court ruling is expected soon. The challenger filed the challenge at 5:13 p.m. on the last day for challenges. The law does not say the challenge must be filed by 5 p.m. but Kasich argues that it implies 5 p.m.

Massachusetts Green Presidential Primary Results, Compared to Same Primary in 2012

Posted on by March 11, 2016
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The election returns for the March 1, 2016 Massachusetts Green Party presidential primary have been posted on the Secretary of State’s web page. The results are: Jill Stein 768; Sedinam Moyowasifa-Curry 78; Darryl Cherney 54; Kent Mesplay 37; William Kreml 24; write-ins 436; uncommitted slate 199.

Four years ago in the Massachusetts Green Party primary, the results were: Jill Stein 1,018; Kent Mesplay 89; Harley Mikkelson 84; write-ins 95; uncommitted slate 232.

Probably the overwhelming bulk of 2016 write-ins are for Bernie Sanders, but Massachusetts election officials don’t tally write-ins in presidential primaries unless the total number of write-ins exceeds the number of votes cast for the highest vote-getting candidate who was on the ballot.

Group of Dissident Republicans Wants to Persuade Condoleezza Rice to be Independent Presidential Candidate

Posted on by March 10, 2016
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The group of Republican donors and activists who want an independent presidential candidate to enter the race have determined that their best hope is to persuade Condoleezza Rice to be that independent. See this story.

Rice was born in 1954, and is seven years younger than Hillary Clinton and eight years younger than Donald Trump. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.

Arizona Newspaper Says Top-Two Initiative Backers are Expected to Abandon Initiative

Posted on by March 10, 2016
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According to this article in the Tucson Daily Star, proponents of a top-two initiative in Arizona are giving up, because Texas billionaires John and Laura Arnold do not agree with the strategy for passing the measure, and the Arnolds were the main source of money to pay to get the proposal on the November 2016 ballot.

The Arizona proponents felt that they were far more likely to pass top-two if the campaign for top-two was paired with another initiative, requiring organizations that spend money in campaigns to provide greater disclosure. But, according to the story, the Arnolds aren’t interested in the disclosure initiative and will not fund it.

Here is a second story, which has some additional information.

Illinois Democrat, Kept off Democratic Primary Ballot for County Office, Will Run as an Independent

Posted on by March 10, 2016
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Jack Schwartz is a candidate for State’s Attorney for Rock Island County, Illinois. According to this story, his petition to get on the Democratic primary ballot was ruled invalid, so he will instead run as an independent candidate. The petition was invalid because the circulator’s signature block was signed by both him and his wife, when only one signature should have appeared in that space.