New Mexico Representative Nate Gentry (R-Bernalillo) has introduced HB 346. It would move the primary for president and all other office from June to March. Because New Mexico links petition deadlines for independent candidates and newly-qualifying parties to the primary date, the bill would automatically move those deadlines from late June to mid-April. Two years ago, a U.S. District Court ruled in Constitution Party v Duran that the old April deadline for newly-qualifying parties is unconstitutionally early. Chances are, the bill’s sponsor hasn’t thought about this problem. Thanks to Frontloading HQ and Josh Putnam for this news.

A New Mexico state trial court will hear Crum v Duran on Tuesday morning, February 10. This is the case in which a New Mexico independent voter argues that the state constitution protects his right to choose either a Democratic primary ballot, or a Republican primary ballot. New Mexico has closed primaries and neither major party lets independents vote in its primaries, although each major party is free to do so.

The New Mexico Constitution says, “Every person who is a qualified elector pursuant to the constitution and laws of the U.S. and a citizen thereof shall be qualified to vote in all elections in New Mexico, subject to residency and registration requirements.” The state argues that a primary election is not an “election”. The New Mexico Republican Party intervened and argues that even if the New Mexico Constitution does require that parties let independents vote in its primaries, in that case the New Mexico Constitution would violate the U.S. Constitution. Here is an article about the lawsuit. The hearing is in Albuquerque; the case number is d202-cv-2014-03730. It had been filed on June 3, 2014.

On February 6, Mississippi Republican Congressman Alan Nunnelee died at the age of 56. Mississippi law requires the Governor to call a special election, and the Governor must choose the date within 60 days after the seat becomes vacant. In the November 2014 election, Congressman Nunnelee was re-elected in the First District, defeating his Democratic opponent by 102,622 to 43,713. A Libertarian in that 2014 race polled 3,830 votes, and a Reform Party nominee polled 946 votes.

Mississippi special elections are non-partisan, with no party labels on the ballot.