Late in the day on August 26, the California Assembly passed AB 2351, so the bill is now through the legislature and on its way to Governor Jerry Brown. It eases the definition of “political party.” Thanks to C.T. Weber for this news.
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The Oregonian has this op-ed, advocating that Oregon voters not vote for Measure 90 in November 2014. That is the initiative for a top-two election system. The op-ed is by Blair Bobier.
On August 26, Public Policy Polling released an Iowa poll. For Governor, the results are: Republican incumbent Terry Branstad 48%; Democrat Jack Hatch 35%; Libertarian Lee Deakins Hieb 2%; New Independent Party Jim Hennager 2%; Iowa Party Jonathan Narcisse 1%; undecided 12%.
For U.S. Senate, for the seat of retiring Tom Harkin: Democrat Bruce Braley 41%; Republican Joni Ernst 40%; Libertarian Douglas Butzier 2%; independent Richard Stewart 2%; independent Ruth Smith 1%. Another independent candidate who is on the ballot, Bob Quast, is not mentioned, so presumably his support was below 1%. Undecided is 14%. Thanks to PoliticalWire for the link.
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.
According to this story, a challenge has been filed to the New York gubernatorial petition of the “Rent is 2 Damn High” Party.