Since 2013, democracy.com has been offering any candidate for public office the ability to build a campaign web page, without expense. Here is a story about democracy.com. Such campaign web pages include the ability for the candidate to solicit campaign contributions. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.
On September 24, U.S. District Court Judge Bernard Friedman refused to order Michigan to let David Swartout have the label “independent” on the November ballot. Swartout is an independent candidate for U.S. House, but state law forces him to have the label “No party affiliation” instead of “independent.” Swartout v Johnson, eastern district, 2:14cv-12768.
It would have been surprising if Swartout had received injunctive relief, because Michigan has already printed its ballots. So far, Swartout hasn’t presented evidence that he is harmed, but it may still be possible for him to introduce such evidence. A study conducted by Ballot Access News, and printed in the August 1, 2013 issue, shows that independent candidates in 2012 who were in two-candidate races, and who had the label “independent” polled an average vote of 33.23%. But independent candidates in 2012 in two-candidate races who had less appealing labels polled an average of 30.21%. Similarly, the median showing for independent candidates with “independent” was 31.94%, but the median for independents without that label was only 28.79%. The study covered all 106 independent candidates for federal and state office who ran in 2012 in two-candidate races.
According to this story, three New York Democratic nominees for State Senate have also won the Green Party nomination, by filing as write-in candidates in the Green Party’s primary.
The Eleventh Circuit will hear Stein v Bennett, 13-15556, on Friday, November 21, in Montgomery, Alabama. The issue is Alabama’s March petition deadline for newly-qualifying party petitions, in presidential election years. The plaintiffs include the Libertarian, Green, and Constitution Parties, and some of their candidates and officers.
On September 24, Gallup released its poll on whether the U.S. would be better off with a major new political party. Gallup does this poll approximately once per year. The new poll shows 58% in favor. The all-time high was 60%, from last year’s poll.
