The U.S. Supreme Court in the past few weeks and months has agreed to hear three redistricting cases in the coming term. One is from Maryland, one from Texas, and one from Arizona. Here is an article by Rick Hasen in the Orange County Lawyer magazine, describing each of them.
The Maryland case will be argued November 4. The other two cases don’t have argument dates set yet.
The Populist Party existed from 1984 through 1994. Although the party ceased to exist in 1994, it continued to publish its monthly newspaper, the Nationalist Times, for another twenty-one years. However, on September 10 the paper announced that it will no longer be published.
The Populist Party’s strongest presidential run was in 1992, when it ran Bo Gritz for President. The Populist Party actually polled a higher share of the vote in the states where it was on the ballot than any other party other than the Democratic and Republican Parties. Gritz polled .31% in the states where he was on the ballot. But because he was only on the ballot in states containing 30% of the electorate that year, he only received 107,014, for fifth place behind Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, Ross Perot, and Andre Marrou.
On September 15, a new lawsuit was filed against Virginia’s legislative districts. See this story.
Texas law lets political parties set their own ballot access barriers for presidential primaries. For 2016, the Democratic rules let anyone on the ballot who pays $2,500. The Republican rules let anyone on who pays $5,000. See this story. Texas has been holding presidential primaries in every year starting in 1980. Democrats have always allowed qualification by fee. Republicans required a petition in the 1980’s but no longer do so.
In 2012, there were nine Republicans on the Texas presidential primary ballot, and four Democrats. The Texas 2012 presidential primary didn’t attract a great deal of attention because it was later than usual. It was held on May 29. Normally Texas primaries are in March, but the 2012 primary was delayed due to redistricting. It is possible the 2016 Texas primary will also be delayed, if federal courts require new districts.
In 2008, there were eleven choices on the Republican ballot and six on the Democratic ballot. The 2008 primary was March 4.
On September 15, independent candidate Clayton Walker was sentenced to probation and 200 hours of community service. He tried to get on the ballot in 2014 for U.S. Senate, bbut was convicted of forging names on his petition. See this story.
