New York held six special legislative elections on September 13. Both the Working Families Party, and the Green Party, had their own nominees in some of these elections. The Working Families nominee in the 54th Assembly district in Brooklyn, Jesus Gonzalez, polled 32%. His Democratic-Republican-Conservative opponent polled 44%, and an independent candidate polled 23%. Gonzalez’ showing is the best ever for a New York WFP nominee for the legislature. The previous best showing had been in 2006, for Joan Millman running in the 52nd district in Brooklyn. Millman had polled 22.62% on the WFP line.

The Green Party had its own nominee on September 13 in the 144th Assembly district in Buffalo. Gregory Horn polled 8%. His Democratic opponent polled 71% and his Republican opponent polled 21%. Horn’s showing was the best ever for a Green Party nominee for the New York legislature, excluding past races in which there was only one major party nominee running. The previous best Green Party showing for a New York legislative race with both a Democrat and a Republican also running had been in 2000, when Javier Enriquez had polled 7.36% in the 50th Assembly district in Brooklyn.

Until 2010, Rhode Island voter registration forms, like the voter registration forms of almost all other states that have registration by party, listed the qualified parties. Voters could choose one by checking a box. But in 2010, the Rhode Island Board of Elections deleted the names of the qualified parties, and just left a blank line for the voter to write in the name of a party.

However, on September 13, the Board reversed the 2010 decision, and the new forms will again list the qualified parties. They qualified parties in Rhode Island are Democratic, Republican, and Moderate. The Moderate Party is especially happy with this development, because whereas most people know about the two major parties, a substantial number of people are not aware of the Moderate Party.

According to this story, today’s 3rd circuit order putting Carl Lewis on the ballot will be appealed. The appeal will either be to the U.S. Supreme Court, or to the entire 3rd circuit. Although it would be somewhat inaccurate to expect judges to vote according to their own partisan leanings, it is interesting that the 3rd circuit has 13 full-time judges, including seven appointed by Democratic presidents, and six by Republican presidents.