Greg Orman, an independent candidate for U.S. Senate in Kansas last year who came fairly close to winning, has this op-ed in the Concord Monitor. It advocates more inclusive presidential general election debates.
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On April 9, the Montana House State Administration Committee passed SB 279. It had already passed the Senate. It says that when a vacancy occurs in a U.S. Senate seat, there should be a special election to fill the vacancy. Current law says the Governor appoints someone who serves until the next regularly-scheduled congressional election.
On April 10, the Nevada Senate Committee on Legislative Operations & Elections amended SB 499. The bill no longer provides for a top-two primary. Now it moves the petition deadline for newly-qualifying parties from April to June. Thanks to Janine Hansen for this news.
On April 10, the Montana Senate State Administration Committee passed HB 454 by 7-0. The bill says parties no longer must elect precinct committeemembers in a primary. Because Montana has open primaries, and because the Republican Party does not want non-members of the party helping to choose party officers, the party has a lawsuit pending in the Ninth Circuit to change the open primary, at least relative to elections for party officers. But if HB 454 passes, the Republican Party can no longer argue that it is being forced to use an open primary for that purpose.
The bill was amended in the committee to provide that county central committees could appoint precinct representatives. Thanks to Mike Fellows for this news.
On April 10, U.S. District Court Judge David Nuffer refused to enjoin a Utah law that permits candidates to appear on a primary ballot even if they did not have significant support at the party’s caucus. Utah Republican Party v Herbert, 2:14cv-876. Although the constitutionality of the law has not been decided, it will remain in effect while the case proceeds. The Constitution Party is a co-plaintiff with the Republican Party. Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.