A Missouri trial court will hear arguments on August 20 on whether two statewide initiatives in Missouri have enough valid signatures. See this story.
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Filing has closed for Louisiana congressional elections. Republicans are running in all six districts. Democrats are only running in the First, Second, and Third Districts. Libertarians are running in all districts except the First District. Independent candidates are running in the First, Fifth, and Sixth Districts. Thanks to Randall Hayes for this information.
There are no congressional primaries in Louisiana. All candidates run in November. Generally the incumbent, or some candidate, gets at least 50% and is elected. But if no one gets 50%, there is a runoff in December. This system was used in Louisiana 1998 through 2006. In 2006, the legislature decided it didn’t like that system, and changed it effective 2008 to a semi-closed primary and an orthodox general election. But then, after a few years, the legislature decided it didn’t like that either, and went back to the old system effective this year.
Two Libertarians are certain to be elected to local partisan office in Louisiana in November, because they filed in races for which the number of candidates is equal to the number of seats to be filled. Randall Hayes filed for Alderman in Atlanta, and Michael Riffe filed for the same office in Sikes. Each village is in Winn Parish and each elects three. In each case, only three individuals filed, so the election is canceled and the candidates who filed are deemed nominated.
If there had been an election, party labels would have been on the ballot. As far as is known, these two Libertarians will be the first minor party members elected to public office in Louisiana since 1968, when the American Party presidential elector candidates won the election and voted for George Wallace in the electoral college. Thanks to Randall Hayes for this news.
The Iowa Secretary of State’s web page shows that eight presidential candidates will appear on the November ballot. They are the nominees of the Democratic, Republican, Constitution, Green, Libertarian, Party for Socialism and Liberation, and Socialist Workers Parties. Also an independent candidate, Jerry Litzel, qualified. His vice-presidential running mate is Jim Litzel. Here is a fairly recent newspaper story about Jerry Litzel, although it does not mention that he is running for president.
The Party for Socialism and Liberation’s presidential nominee in Iowa this year is Gloria La Riva, the stand-in for Peta Lindsay.
On August 17, the Arizona Supreme Court issued an order, putting the top-two open primary initiative back on the November ballot. The Court said it would issue an explanation later. The decision is unanimous. Thanks to Warren Severin for this news. Here is a newspaper story about the Supreme Court action.