Vermont Progressive Party Nominee David Zuckerman Defeated for Re-Election as Lieutenant Governor

Posted on by November 21, 2024
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On November 5, David Zuckerman, the incumbent Progressive Party member who had been serving as Vermont’s Lieutenant Governor, was defeated by Republican nominee John Rodgers. Neither candidate had a majority, but Rodgers got 48.8% and Zuckerman got 47.1%. The third candidate on the ballot, Ian Diamondstone, was the nominee of the Green Mountain Peace & Justice Party, got 3.9%.

The Constitution says that the legislature can choose the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Treasurer if no one gets at least 50% of the vote. So in theory, the legislature could choose Zuckerman when it convenes. But that is considered unlikely, even though Diamondstone endorsed that idea. See this story.

Write-in Candidate Elected to Kentucky State Senate

Posted on by November 21, 2024
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On November 5, Kentucky voters in the 29th State Senate district saw two names on their ballot for State Senate. However, there were signs in the polling places saying votes for neither candidate would be counted. One name was David Suhr, an independent candidate, but he had withdrawn because of his need to be deployed overseas in the military. The other name was the incumbenet, Senator Johnnie Turner, but he had died shortly before the election.

There were eleven declared write-in candidates. One of them, Pineville Mayor Scott Madon, won with 6,825 write-in votes, 35.18% of the total vote for all eleven declared write-in candidates. Kentucky was fortunate to have a very late deadline for candidates to file as declared write-ins. Otherwise a special election would have been needed in the near future.

The list of declared write-in candidates was not posted at the polling places, but any voter was free to ask to see the list. Polling place officials would then give a copy of the list to the voter who had requested to see it.

Names did not need to be spelled correctly, and first names weren’t required.

2024 Presidential Election Has Closest Popular Vote of Any Presidential Election Since 2000

Posted on by November 22, 2024
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So far, Donald Trump has 49.86% of the total vote, and Kamala Harris has 48.24%. The margin is 1.62%. This is the first presidential election since 2000 in which the popular vote margin between the two major party candidates is less than 2%.

There will be slight changes as remaining ballots are processed.

U.S. Supreme Court Asks New York to Respond in Lawsuit Over Discriminatory Campaign Finance Limits

Posted on by November 20, 2024
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On November 20, the U.S. Supreme Court asked New York state to respond to the cert petition Upstate Jobs Party v Kosinski, 24-503. This is the lawsuit that challenges New York campaign finance limits. The law lets individuals give more money to the nominee of a qualified party than to an independent or the nominee of an unqualified party.

This is a sign that the U.S. Supreme Court might possibly be interested in the case. The state’s response is due December 20.