California State Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) will not attempt to advance SCA 12 and SB 712 this year. This is the proposed constitutional amendment and bill to make it more difficult for write-in candidates in a partisan primary to advance to the general election. Current law says whoever comes in second in the June primary for Congress and state office advances to the November ballot. The bill would have said if the person who comes in second is a write-in in the June primary, he or she can’t appear on the November ballot unless the candidate polled a very large number of write-in votes.

On April 11, the Illinois House passed HJRCA 18, which would abolish the office of Lieutenant Governor. If it became law, and the Governorship became vacant, the Attorney General would become Governor. The vote was 83-28. If it also passes the Senate, the voters would vote on it in 2014. The motivation is to save money. Thanks to Ken Bush for this news.

On April 9, a member of the Illinois Libertarian Party, Chris Jenner, was elected to the McHenry County College Board of Trustees. The district includes not only McHenry County, but parts of Boone, Kane, and Lake Counties. Voters elected candidates to three at-large posts. Twelve candidates ran, and Jenner placed second. See this post about Jenner at the Libertarian Party’s web page. Thanks to IndependentPoliticalReport for this news.