Former U.S. Senator Larry Pressler, who has said he will be an independent candidate for U.S. Senate in South Dakota in 2014, says he intends to win. He is featured in this article in the Aberdeen, South Dakota, News.
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The Hawaii Libertarian Party has been told by the State Elections Office that it has 705 valid signatures, on its petition to restore its party status. The law requires 706 signatures. The party has several hundred more signatures not turned in yet, so obviously it has enough valid signatures.
Nationally, the Libertarian Party has completed three statewide petitions for ballot access during 2013: Hawaii, North Dakota, and Arkansas. Whether it is still on in Ohio depends on the outcome of its lawsuit, which will probably be decided in January. Counting Ohio and Hawaii, the party is now on the ballot in 32 states and the District of Columbia. Four years ago (at the end of December 2009), it was on in 29 states.
The Anchorage Daily News has this article by Charles D. Ellison, a politics commentator. Ellison predicts conservative Republicans will bolt from the Republican Party in 2016.
The Seattle Times has this article about Socialist Alternative Party, and its hopes to greatly increase the number of candidates it runs for both non-partisan office and partisan office.
It is expected that the New Mexico Constitution Party will file a request for re-hearing on December 27, over whether parties that submit a valid petition are then entitled to just one election, or two elections.