Nevada Legislator Leaves Republican Party, Joins Libertarian Party

On January 8, Nevada Assemblyman John Moore announced that he has changed his registration from “Republican” to “Libertarian.” He represents the 8th district, which is in Las Vegas. He had run for that seat in 2012 as a Democrat, but had lost the Democratic primary. But in 2014, he won the seat as the Republican nominee. The 2014 vote was: Moore 4,187; the Democratic nominee, Jason Frierson, 4,147.

Moore is a realtor and was an airborne ranger in the U.S. Army in the past. He will attempt to retain his seat as a Libertarian nominee this year. He has not yet updated his campaign web page.

Modern Whig Party of Louisiana Invites Presidential Candidates to a Forum on January 28 in Lake Charles, Louisiana

The Modern Whig Party of Louisiana has arranged for a January 28 forum for all presidential candidates who are willing to attend. So far, ten candidates have accepted:

1. Sedinam Kinamo Christin Moyowasifza Curry, candidate for the Green presidential nomination, from Los Angeles, California
2. Robert Dionisio, an independent candidate from Atlanta, Georgia
3. Zoltan Istvan, presidential nominee of the Transhumanist Party, of Mill Valley, California
4. John Fitzgerald Johnson, an independent candidate from Cincinnati, Ohio
5. Lynn S. Kahn, an independent candidate from Silver Spring, Maryland
6. Chris Keniston, presidential nominee of the Veterans Party, of Vernon, Texas
7. Valma Kittington, candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, from Midland City, Alabama
8. Roger E. Nicholas, candidate for the Unity Party presidential nomination, from Maryville, Missouri
9. Rhett Smith, candidate for the Libertarian presidential nomination, from San Antonio, Texas
10. Verone A. Thomas, candidate for the Modern Whig presidential nomination, from Lake Charles, Louisiana

The event will be live-streamed. It is being held in the conference room of Reeves Uptown Catering, at 1639 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana, a room that seats 200 people. The moderators are Jackie Simien, a retired television news anchor, and Derick Kee, of the civic organization V.I.S.A. Coalition. The event starts at 6 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. There is a Republican presidential debate set for the same evening.

Jill Stein Campaign Believes it has Qualified for Primary Season Matching Funds

The Jill Stein campaign believes it qualified for primary season matching funds on Wednesday, January 6. In 2012, when Stein also qualified for primary season matching funds, she didn’t do that until August. She received her first check from the FEC on August 28, 2012, for $100,000.

By qualifying this early, Stein will probably receive her first check in early February 2016. The money can be used to pay for general election petitioning.

Martin O’Malley, seeking the Democratic nomination, became the first presidential candidate to qualify for 2016 primary season matching funds. He submitted his paperwork November 3, 2015.

Illinois Republican Congressional Candidate Files Lawsuit Against Primary Petition Requirement as Applied to a Physically Disabled Person

Illinois is one of a minority of states that requires a petition for candidates to get on a primary ballot. On January 7, Andrew Straw filed a state lawsuit against the mandatory petition requirement, as applied to individuals like himself who are physically disabled. Straw is a Republican candidate for U.S. House, 8th district, which includes most of the northwest Chicago suburbs.

Straw needs 475 valid signatures to get on the Republican primary ballot. He collected 128, but his petition was challenged for not having enough signatures. He was in an auto accident in 2001 which left him with a crushed pelvis and two broken legs. He is permanently unable to stand or walk for very long without experiencing severe pain. His lawsuit argues that the federal ADA act requires states to make accomodations for handicapped individuals, and that the state should let such individuals collect signatures online, both by using e-signatures or by witnessing signatures over a video link like Skype or Facebook Video. The case is Straw v Illinois State Board of Elections, in Cook County Chancery Court, 2016CH-227. Here is his Complaint.