The New York Working Families Party polled its best percentages ever for federal and state office in November 2014, other than the gubernatorial race. The party polled its highest vote percentages ever for the other statewide offices, Comptroller and Attorney General.

For U.S. House races, its nominees polled 6.12% of the vote in the districts in which the party had nominees. It had nominees in 24 of the 27 districts. All of them were also Democratic Party nominees. Previous Working Families percentages in New York U.S. House races (in which the party had nominees) were: 2000 1.79%; 2002 3.04%; 2004 3.03%; 2006 4.22%; 2008 3.48%; 2010 4.43%; 2012 3.65%.

For State Senate races, WFP nominees polled 5.96% in the districts in which it had nominees. Previous equivalent percentages were: 2000 1.86%; 2002 3.45%; 2004 3.21%; 2006 4.79%; 2008 3.35%; 2010 4.61%; 2012 3.63%.

For Assembly, WFP nominees received 7.24%. Previous showings were: 2000 2.05%; 2002 2.84%; 2004 3.20%; 2006 4.39%; 2008 3.62%; 2010 5.05%; 2012 4.62%.

For the first time in a regularly-scheduled legislative race, the WFP topped 25%. It did that in the 44th Assembly district for its nominee, James Brennan, who was also the Democratic nominee. There was a Republican in this race also. Brennan received 25.12% on the WFP line. The party’s second-best showing in a 2014 legislative race was in the 52nd Assembly district race, where its nominee, Peter Sikora, was not the Democratic Party nominee, but just the WFP nominee. The Republicans also had a nominee in that race. Both the 44th and 52nd Assembly districts are in Brooklyn.

Although the 2014 showing for Governor was lower than the WFP showings of 2006 and 2010, it didn’t decline much. All three years, and always in the party’s history, the WFP gubernatorial nominee has been the person who was also the Democratic nominee. The WFP showings for Governor have been: 1998 1.08%; 2002 1.98%; 2006 3.50% (its best); 2010 3.33%; 2014 3.31%.

Virginia holds special elections to fill three legislative vacancies this month. Independent candidates are running in two of the three races.

On January 6, there are special elections for Delegate in the 34th and 63rd districts. In the 63rd district, independent candidate William Henry “Mouse” Jones is the only opponent of the Democratic nominee, Joseph Preston. The district is centered on Petersburg.

In the 34th Delegate district, the only nominees are Republican Craig Parisot and Democrat Kathleen Murphy. The district is in parts of Fairfax and Loudon Counties.

On January 13, the three candidates for the 74th Delegate district race are: independent Joseph D. Morrissey, Democrat Kevin J. Sullivan, and Republican Matt Walton. This district is near Richmond.

Chicago holds its nonpartisan city elections on February 24, 2015. Voters elect three citywide offices: Mayor, City Clerk, and Treasurer. For the latter two offices, only one candidate will be listed on the ballot. Candidates for the citywide offices need 12,500 valid signatures, and that is so severe, there is very little competition for the two lesser offices. Two candidates for city clerk filed petitions, but one candidate’s petition was challenged and the challenger prevailed.

Here is the long list of candidates for Alderman who were challenged, and what the results of each challenge were. The document contains 16 pages. There are races for Alderman in 50 districts. Not all of the challenges have been adjudicated yet. At this point it is not known how many candidates will be on for Mayor.