Oregon has two initiative petitions circulating, both of which would establish a top-two primary. Mark Frohnmayer is sponsoring petition #54, which would establish a top-two system and also use approval voting in the primary. James Kelly, a well-connected businessman, is sponsoring petition #55, which sets up a top-two system but does not use approval voting at any stage.
All initiatives in Oregon this year need 87,213 valid signatures, by July 3.
There are two pending federal lawsuits in Michigan that will affect the ability of Congressman John Conyers to appear on the August 5 Democratic primary ballot. The case that had been filed first, Davis v Johnson, has been delayed somewhat. Judge Gershwin Drain, who had been set to handle the case, has recused himself. The case is now transferred to Judge Matthew Leitman, who will hear the case on May 21.
Judge Drain did not say why he recused himself, but presumably it is because he is a friend of Congressman Conyers. Both judges are Obama appointees.
On May 13, the Louisiana Senate passed HB 193, so it is now through the legislature. It allows a party to have “Independent” in its name, or to be named simply the “Independent Party.” Thanks to Jim Riley for this news.
The bills, and similar bills, started out in this session of the legislature, as well as an earlier legislative session, as a bill to permit independent candidates to have the word “independent” as their ballot label. Independent candidates in Louisiana use the ballot label “no party.”
On May 13, Nebraska held primaries for the Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian Parties. Here is a link to the unofficial returns for all three parties. The only contested Libertarian primary was for U.S. House, 2nd district.
The Associated Press has released this story, mentioning that the Ohio Libertarian Party has asked for a rehearing in its ballot access case before all the judges of the Sixth Circuit. It is somewhat unusual for the press to pay any attention to a rehearing request, because they are seldom granted.
