On February 27, filing closed for Arizona’s upcoming special congressional primary in the 8th district. The seat is vacant because of the resignation of Gabrielle Giffords. The special primary will be on April 17, and the special general election on June 12.
One Green Party member, community activist Charles Manolakis, filed. One Democrat, Ron Barber, filed. Four Republicans filed: Frank Antenori, Jesse Kelly, Martha McSally, and Dave Silton.
On February 27, the Virginia Circuit Court in the city of Richmond ruled that the 2012 session of the legislature does have authority to draw U.S. House district boundaries. See this story. The case is Jennifer Little v Virginia State Board of Elections, CL 11-5253. Last month the same court had ruled that the plaintiffs had standing. The plaintiffs had argued that the Virginia State Constitution requires the U.S. House districting to be done in the year after the census. But, in 2011, the legislature did not draw new districts, although it did do so early in 2012.
On February 27, the Wyoming Secretary of State determined that Americans Elect has enough valid signatures on its petition. Wyoming now has four ballot-qualified parties: Americans Elect, Democratic, Libertarian, and Republican. The Constitution Party and the Country Party are expected to qualify soon. Assuming that happens, Wyoming will have six ballot qualified-parties, the most in its history.
On February 27, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker said he won’t challenge the validity of the recall petition filed to remove him from office. See this story. In Wisconsin, signatures are valid if the voter is eligible to register to vote. There is no master list to check the validity of signatures. The only signatures that the Governor might have been able to invalidate would have been duplicate signatures, and names on the petition in which the so-called signer doesn’t exist, or doesn’t live at the address listed on the petition. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.
Pennsylvania Politics has this interesting analysis of the upcoming petition challenge to Congressman Jason Altmire’s petitions to be on the Democratic primary ballot. The article discusses whether the Pennsylvania state courts will finally rule that in-district residency requirements for petitioners are unconstitutional, even in primary elections. Thanks to Larry Otter for the link.
