John F. Di Leo has this fascinating, very lengthy analysis of the recent troubles of the Illinois Democratic Party concerning the Illinois primary for Lieutenant Governor.
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Georgia Politics Unfiltered, a blog for Georgia politics, has this commentary on SB 359, which would make it far easier for a party that is already qualified statewide to be able to also run candidates for district and county office. Thanks to Third Party Daily for the link.
This newspaper story from Great Britain says a neutral poll suggests that the Green Party will win its first seat in the British Parliament. Thanks to Green Party Watch for the link. Britain will hold a general election sometime in April, May, or June 2010.
The Birmingham News of February 8 has this editorial, urging the Alabama legislature to pass Rep. Cam Ward’s ballot access bill. Ward has improved the bill so that now it cuts the number of signatures, both for independent candidates and for new and previously unqualified political parties. Also it cuts the vote test for a party to retain its spot on the ballot. The bill is HB 142.
On February 7, the man who won the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, Scott Cohen, dropped out of the race. See this story. Thanks to Clay Shentrup for the news.
Probably the Illinois Democratic Party will need to circulate a petition for whomever it chooses to fill the vacancy, under a law the legislature passed last year. UPDATE: in this situation, no petition is needed.