The Star Tribune of Minneapolis, the largest newspaper in Minnesota, says in this September 13 editorial that Independence Party gubernatorial candidate Tom Horner has the most realistic plan for a state budget. See the editorial here. Also, former Republican Governor Arne Carlson recently endorsed Horner; see that story here. Thanks to Peter Tharaldson for this news.
The League of Women Voters has invited Steve Funk into a candidate’s debate, for candidates running for Illinois State House, 18th district, even though Funk was removed from the ballot after the Democratic Party challenged his petition. The debate is set for October 3. Funk is a declared write-in candidate. The only person on the ballot is incumbent Democratic State Representative Robyn Gabel. The district is centered on Evanston, in northeast Illinois. Gabel will also participate.
Although the Illinois Libertarian Party’s statewide slate is on the ballot, the party has no candidates for U.S. House or state legislature on the ballot. Those offices require petitions signed by 5% of the last vote cast.
This Denver Post story points out that parties that poll at least 10% of the vote for Governor enjoy a better spot on general election ballots for their nominees. Section 1-5-404 says that major party nominees should be listed first on the ballot, in random order. They are followed by the nominees of the qualified minor parties. They, in turn, are followed by the names of independent candidates, and the nominees of unqualified parties.
Section 1-1-404 defines “major party” to be a party that polled 10% for Governor. Recent polls have showed Tom Tancredo, the Constitution Party’s gubernatorial nominee, at 15%. The story even speculates that it is possible the Republican Party nominee for Governor will poll less than 10%. Most likely, though, is that after November 2010, Colorado will have three “major” parties, as defined by the election law, and they will all have an equal chance for the top spot on ballots.
On September 13, a University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll was released, showing the results for several of the statewide races. All of the Libertarians mentioned in the poll for statewide office are polling between 5% and 8%, even though the listed races also include Democratic and Republican nominees. Not since 1992 has the Texas Libertarian Party been able to poll as much as 5% in a statewide race that had both a Democrat and a Republican also running. In 1992, Libertarian nominee Richard Draheim, running against both a Republican and a Democrat for Railroad Commissioner, had polled 6.99%.
The poll shows these results for the gubernatorial race: Rick Perry, Republican, 39%; Bill White, Democrat, 33%; Kathie Glass, Libertarian, 5%; Deb Shafto, Green, 1%; undecided 22%. The best previous showing for a Libertarian for Texas Governor had been in 1990, when Jeff Daiell had polled 3.32%. The best, and only, Green Party showing for Texas Governor had been in 2002, when Rahul Mahajan had polled .71%.
The Connecticut League of Women Voters is holding debates for U.S. Senator and Governor, and has invited the Independent Party nominees for both offices into those debates. The Independent Party candidate for U.S. Senator is Warren Mosler; the Independent Party candidate for Governor is Thomas E. Marsh.
The gubernatorial race only has three candidates on the ballot. The U.S. Senate race has four candidates on the ballot, but the League did not invite the nominee of the Lieberman for Connecticut Party into its U.S. Senate debate. He is Professor John Mertens. The League said he did not provide the League with enough information about his campaign.
