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Former Democratic State Legislator Begins Petition Drive to be “Education & Democracy Party” Nominee for Connecticut Governor

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Richard WingerJune 10, 2014

Jonathan W. Pelto, a Connecticut legislator between 1984 and 1994, has begun petitioning to get himself on the Connecticut ballot as the Education & Democracy Party nominee for Governor. See this story. Pelto was Political Director of the Connecticut Democratic Party in 1990.

The only states that are having gubernatorial elections this year, and which definitely won’t have any minor party or independent candidates for Governor on the November ballot, are Alabama, California, and New Mexico. Thanks to Timothy McKee for the link.

Tom Ervin Submits Petitions to be First Independent Gubernatorial Candidate in South Carolina History

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Richard WingerJune 9, 2014

On June 9, Tom Ervin, a former Republican state legislator, submitted over 20,000 signatures to qualify as an independent candidate for Governor of South Carolina. The state requires 10,000 signatures. Assuming the petition is approved, Ervin will be the first independent gubernatorial candidate to appear on a South Carolina government-printed ballot.

South Carolina did not use government-printed ballots until 1950, far later than any other state. Other states that have never had an independent candidate for Governor are Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, and North Carolina. Delaware, Michigan, and New Mexico did not permit independent candidates for any office until 1976, when Eugene McCarthy sued all three and won all those lawsuits, and forced the state to implement procedures for independent candidates.

Wisconsin Democratic Party Official Removes Green Party Legislative Candidate from November Ballot

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Richard WingerJune 9, 2014

Mike LaForest is a Green Party nominee for lower house of the Wisconsin legislature. On June 5, a Democratic Party official filed a challenge to his general election petition. LaForest needs 200 valid signatures and submitted 284. On June 10, the challenge was upheld, and LaForest was removed from the ballot. GreenPartyWatch has the details. There will be two candidates on the general election ballot, the Democratic incumbent and a Libertarian.

The Green Party is not a ballot-qualified party in Wisconsin, although it probably will regain its party status in the November 2014 election.

Larry Pressler, Independent for U.S. Senate in South Dakota, at 18% in Poll

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Richard WingerJune 9, 2014

On June 9, Rasmussen released a poll for the South Dakota U.S. Senate race. Larry Pressler, the former Senator who is running as an independent, is still in third place, but he is gaining and is at 18%. Thanks to PoliticalWire for the link.

Fourth Circuit Sets Oral Argument in South Carolina Open Primary Republican Party Lawsuit

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Richard WingerJune 9, 2014

The Fourth Circuit has set the week of September 16-19 for oral arguments in The Greenville County Republican Party v State lawsuit. The exact date within that week will be set soon.

This is the case in which the Greenville County Republican Party seeks to close its primaries to exclude non-Republicans. The lower court had said the county party does not have standing. The party is in a strong position because it pays for its own primaries, when the election concerns city offices.