Preliminary election returns show these national totals for each party, in the November 2010 election, for the office at the top of the ballot.  “Office at the top of the ballot” means Governor.  If a state had no gubernatorial election, it means U.S. Senate.  For the four states that had neither a gubernatorial nor a U.S. Senate election, it means U.S. House of Representatives.

The 2010 results are:  Republican 49.1%; Democratic 45.6%; independent candidates 1.2%; Libertarian 1.1%; Constitution 1.0%; Green .6%; all other parties 1.4%.

By comparison, the 2006 results for the office at the top of the ballot were:  Democratic 49.3%; Republican 45.7%; independent candidates 2.2%; Green 1.2%; Libertarian 1.0%; Constitution .2%; other parties .4%.

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski has hired a leading Republican election law specialist to defend her when Alaska Elections officials begin to tally the write-ins.  See this story.  Thanks to Bill Van Allen for the link.

The Libertarian Party now has an automatic spot on the 2012 presidential ballot in 26 states.  If it meets the vote tests in New York and/or Utah, that will go up to either 27 or 28.  Four years ago at this time, the Libertarian Party had presidential ballot status in 24 states.  The changes relative to mid-November 2006, and now, are:  gains in Nebraska, North Carolina, and Ohio; and a loss in Wisconsin.

The Green Party now has an automatic spot on the 2012 presidential ballot in 14 states.  Four years ago at this time, the Green Party had it in 18 states.  The changes relative to mid-November 2006, and now, are:  gains in New York, Ohio, Texas, and West Virginia; and losses in Delaware, Illinois, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

The Constitution Party now has an automatic spot on the 2012 presidential ballot in 12 states.  Four years ago at this time, the Constitution Party had it in 13 states.  Changes are:  gains in Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin; and losses in California, Delaware, Montana, and Nebraska.

Parties with the name “Independent Party”, “Independence Party”, “Moderate Party”, “Reform Party”, or “Natural Law Party” are ballot-qualified for president in 2012 in these 13 states:  Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and South Carolina.  This does not mean that these 13 state parties are necessarily associated with each other.  They are all parties without a fixed ideology.  The New Mexico Independent Party is still ballot-qualified for president because it met the vote test of one-half of 1% for President in 2008, and New Mexico gives parties that meet the vote test two elections.  However, the New Mexico Independent Party appears to be defunct.  The others are all functioning and had candidates on ballots in 2010.