Pennsylvania will hold a special election on May 7, to fill the vacant State House seat, 95th district, in York. In Pennsylvania, parties that polled enough votes in the last election to meet the state’s definition of “political party” nominate by convention and their nominee is put on the ballot automatically.

In November 2012, there had only been two candidates on the ballot, a Democrat who got 16,804 votes, and a Libertarian, David Moser, who got 3,431. According to this story, the Green Party is petitioning to place its nominee, Bill Swartz, on the May 2013 ballot. In November 2012, Greens did not get enough votes in Pennsylvania to enjoy “party” status, but Libertarians did. However, according to the story, the local Libertarian Party has not found anyone to run in the special election. The Green nominee, Swartz, needs 337 valid signatures by early April.

The special election is needed because Representative Eugene DePasquale, who won the seat in November 2012, was simultaneously elected as the state’s Auditor General. Thanks to Andrew Straw for the link.

The National Popular Vote Plan bill in Oregon this year is SB 624. It has 32 sponsors in the House (out of 60 members), and 13 sponsors in the Senate (out of 30 members). In the Senate, only one of the sponsors is a Republican. In the House, only six of the sponsors are Republicans.

Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling has said he will announce on March 14 whether to run as an independent candidate for Governor of Virginia this year. Meanwhile, the Independent Green Party is already circulating an independent petition with Bolling’s name on it, so that if he does run, he will have the advantage of the signatures collected by the party. Here is the party’s web page for the “Draft” effort, including a link to a petition form.