On February 24, Ralph Nader released a list of twenty very wealthy individuals, who, in Nader’s opinion, would improve the United States if any one of them would run for President in 2016. Nader argues that only a very wealthy individual can break through the structural barriers that prevent most individuals who want to make real change from being competitive. Here is the essay, with the list.
On February 20, U.S. District Court Judge J. Ronnie Greer, a Bush Jr. appointee, upheld Tennessee’s law requiring voters at the polls to show certain kinds of government photo-ID. The case had been filed by the Green Party in 2013, and is Green Party of Tennessee v Hargett, eastern district, 2:13cv-224. The 26-page decision says that because the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Indiana’s photo-ID law in 2008, in Crawford v Marion County Election Board, the Tennessee law is also constitutional, whether there is any evidence that the law is needed or not.
The decision also says that the Green Party lacks standing to make some (but not all) of its arguments.
This Houston Chronicle story says Texas Democrats are raising money in support of certain Republican candidates who are running against incumbent Republican State Supreme Court Justices. Texas has an open primary. If Democrats are raising money for certain Republican challengers, it seems likely that some voters who consider themselves Democrats will be motivated to vote in the Republican primary, also with the intent to unseat certain incumbents. Thanks to HowAppealing for the link.
When filing for the California primary closes next month, it is expected that there will be independent candidates for at least three of the statewide state offices. It had already been known that Dan Schnur plans to run for Secretary of State. In addition, Orly Taitz plans to run for Attorney General. She had run as a Republican for Secretary of State in 2010, and for U.S. Senate in 2012, but she is now an independent.
Also, Robert C. Newman, of San Bernardino County, plans to run for Governor. He is supported by the Constitution Party. His webpage is newman4governor.org.
On February 24, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Fox v Sanders County Republican Committee, 13-839. The Ninth Circuit had struck down Montana’s law forbidding political parties to endorse or oppose candidates for judge, by a 2-1 vote. Montana had asked for U.S. Supreme Court review, but did not obtain it.
