No minor party candidates filed to run for either branch of Congress in Massachusetts this year, except for the Green Party’s nominee in the 7th U.S. House district, Jason P. Lowenthal. However, even though he submitted 3,000 signatures to meet a requirement of 2,000 valid signatures, he has been told his petition is invalid.

The Secretary of State has rejected his petition because it is the petition meant for candidates seeking a place on a primary ballot. When the candidate picked up the petition blanks in the Secretary of State’s office in April, he questioned whether he had been given the correct forms. But he was assured that the forms were the correct ones. Lowenthal filed a pro se lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court on August 11, which is pending. Lowenthal v Galvin, 14-2478-C. If Lowenthal does not get on the ballot, the incumbent Democrat, Congressman Michael Capuano, will be the only name on the November ballot.

On August 25, Jeff Amason, the only minor party legislative candidate in Georgia who petitioned this year, lost his ballot access case because he sued the wrong defendant. See this story.

According to this story, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is in Illinois campaign for the Republican nominee for Governor. Christie criticized Illinois for keeping the Green Party slate of statewide candidates off the ballot. However, he seemed poorly informed about the process.