On April 1, Massachusetts Republican Mark Fisher, who wants to run for Governor in the Republican primary in September, sued the Massachusetts Republican Party. Massachusetts major parties won’t let anyone petition for a place on their primary ballots unless the candidate receives at least 15% of the votes of the delegates at party conventions. Last week, the Republican Party held its convention. Fisher got over 15% of the votes of Delegates who expressed a preference, but only 14.7% when the blank votes are included in the calculation. The party determined he is not eligible to circulate a petition. Even if Fisher wins his lawsuit, then he needs a petition signed by 10,000 Republican voters. See this story. The lawsuit is in Suffolk County Superior Court.

On April 1, the Maine State Senate passed LD 511 on second reading by 17-16. The bill still needs to pass on third reading, but the vote was preceded by extensive debate. Two State Senators did not vote. See this story. Thanks to Thomas MacMillan for the link.

March 31 was the deadline for candidates in this year’s primary to submit a petition in New Jersey. In the 7th U.S. House district, no Democrat succeeded in getting on the ballot. The law requires 200 signatures of registered party members. The only Democrat who tried, Janice Kovach, says the failure was due to a miscommunication. See this story.

Democrats can nominate someone at their June 3 primary by write-in vote. The winner must not only outpoll all other write-in candidates, but must obtain at least 200 write-in votes.

In the November 2012 election, the vote in this district was: Leonard Lance, Republican, 175,662; Upendra Chivukula, Democrat, 123,057; Dennis Breen, Independent Reform, 4,518; Patrick McKnight, Libertarian, 4,078. The district is in northern New Jersey and runs from the Delaware River to some outer suburbs of New York city. Thanks to William Fenwick for the link.