On April 30, the 9th circuit issued an opinion in Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce v City of Long Beach, 07-55691. The decision strikes down limits on how much can be contributed to committees that make independent expenditures for or against candidates for city office. The vote was 3-0. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.
The Arizona legislature adjourned for the year on the evening of April 29. SB 1024 did not pass. It is the bill that started out as a simple bill to delete the names of presidential elector candidates from the November ballot. It was then amended to require presidential candidates of qualified parties to submit proof that they meet all the constitutional qualifications. Although the bill had passed in both houses, the two houses passed different versions, and there was no time for a conference commitee.
The legislature also failed to pass any bills to cut off funding for the Public Funding program for candidates for state office.
The Arizona legislature adjourned for the year on the evening of April 29. SB 1024 did not pass. It is the bill that started out as a simple bill to delete the names of presidential elector candidates from the November ballot. It was then amended to require presidential candidates of qualified parties to submit proof that they meet all the constitutional qualifications. Although the bill had passed in both houses, the two houses passed different versions, and there was no time for a conference commitee.
The legislature also failed to pass any bills to cut off funding for the Public Funding program for candidates for state office.
Charlie Crist will be listed ninth (i.e, last) on the November 2008 ballot for the U.S. Senate race in Florida. See this CNN story. Florida lists the nominee of the party that won the governorship first. It lists any other party that has registration of 5% of the voters next. It lists the nominees of other parties next. Finally, at the bottom, are the independent candidates, listed in the order in which they filed. Besides Crist, four other independent candidates filed.
Of course, Crist or any other candidate is free to sue over the ballot order. In 2007 the New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the all candidates must have an equal opportunity for the first line on the ballot. Other courts that have made similar decisions are the California Supreme Court, and the 8th circuit, and U.S. District Court decisions in Oklahoma and New Mexico.
The Tea Party is a ballot-qualified party in Florida. Three candidates filed in the Florida Tea Party’s primary for U.S. House.
In the 8th district, which includes much of Orlando, the Tea Party candidate is Peg Dunmire. The 8th district is a swing district which elected a Republican in 2006 but a Democrat, Alan Grayson, in 2008.
In the 12th district, centered on Polk County in interior Florida, the Tea Party candidate is Randy Wilkinson. This is a safe Republican district.
In the 25th district, which includes the southwestern corner of the state as well as western Dade County, the Tea Party candidate is Roly Arrojo. The Republican incumbent, Mario Diaz-Balart, won in 2008 by a fairly close margin, 130,891 to 115,820 for the Democratic nominee, Joe Garcia. Thanks to Darcy Richardson for this news.
