Ten Rhode Island State Representatives have introduced HB 5277, to create a top-two system. They are nine Democrats and one Republican. The Democratic sponsors are Arthur Corvese, Samuel Azzinaro, William O’Brien, Scott Slater, Thomas Noret, Brian P. Kennedy, Raymond Hull, Robert Phillips, and Jacquelyn Baginski. The Republican is Brian Rea.

Rhode Island law defines a qualified party as a group whose nominee for either President or Governor received 5% of the vote in the last election. The bill changes this definition so that if a candidate endorsed by a party received 5% for those offices, it would be qualified (the bill keeps the presidential nominee nominee option, however). The bill seems to have no prohibition on two different groups or parties “endorsing” a gubernatorial candidate. Taken literally, the bill would appear to allow the Libertarian Party, for example, “endorse” a Republican running for Governor, who conceivably would qualify for the general election ballot and poll at least 5%. Then, again taking the bill literally, that would seem to cause the Libertarian Party to become a qualified party. However, it is doubtful the bill would be interpreted that way.

Oregon State Senator Fred Girod (R-Stayton) has introduced SB 392, to move the primaries for all office from May to March, in presidential years. This is probably motivated by a desire to have Oregon’s presidential primary play a bigger role in the major party presidential nomination process.

Ohio State Senator William DeMora (D-Franklin) has introduced SB 37, to move the primaries for all office in presidential years from March to May. If the bill passed, that would automatically move the petition deadline for non-presidential independent candidates from March to May.