A proposed Texas constitutional amendment, SJR 13, is making headway in the Texas legislature. It would ask the voters in November 2013 if they wish to amend the state constitution to impose term limits on these statewide executive posts: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Comptroller, Attorney General, Land Commissioner, Railroad Commissioner, and Agriculture Commissioner. It passed the Senate on March 19, and it passed the policy committee in the House on April 17.

The amendment would allow two consecutive terms. It would not bar someone from running for office if he or she had already had two terms, as long as the new term was not consecutive. If passed, service earlier than 2014 would not count toward the restriction. Texas is now one of only 15 states with no gubernatorial term limits. Thanks to Jim Riley for this news.

On May 2, Kathleen Curry, an independent write-in candidate for the Colorado legislature in 2010, filed her opening brief in the 10th circuit in Riddle v Hickenlooper, 13-1108. This is the lawsuit that challenges Colorado law that lets individuals contribute $400 to a candidate for the legislature who is nominated by primary, but only $200 to a candidate for the legislature who is either a write-in candidate, or a petitioning candidate, or a candidate nominated by convention.

Kentucky has released new registration data. The only qualified parties in Kentucky are the Republican and Democratic Parties, but Kentucky keeps track of the number of voters who register into five particular unqualified parties. The numbers for the unqualified parties are quite low, because they aren’t named on the voter registration form, and voters must write them in. However, the new data shows gains for these minor parties, and also higher percentages of voters who are registered Republican and independent.

The new percentages are: Democratic 54.57%; Republican 38.07%; independent and miscellaneous 7.23%; Libertarian .097%; Green .023%; Constitution .008%; Reform .003%; Socialist Workers .002%. By contrast, the percentages in November 2012 were: Democratic 54.85%; Republican 37.91%; independent and miscellaneous 7.12%; Libertarian .086%; Green .021%; Constitution .007%; Reform .003%; Socialist Workers .002%.

The numbers for the April 16, 2013 tally are: Democratic 1,667,073; Republican 1,162,785; independent and miscellaneous 220,703; Libertarian 2,970; Green 713; Constitution 245; Reform 99; Socialist Workers 63. The numbers for November 2012 were: Democratic 1,665,853; Republican 1,151,331; independent and miscellaneous 216,333; Libertarian 2,615; Green 637; Constitution 226; Reform 92; Socialist Workers 66. Thanks to Ken Moellman and Paullie for the data.