Atlantic Monthly has this commentary by a legal scholar, Garrett Epps, on why the 7th circuit decision Judge v Quinn is right to say that the U.S. Constitution requires a special election for Barack Obama’s old U.S. Senate seat on November 2, 2010.

As the column says, procedural problems with the lawsuit prevented the 7th circuit from ordering a special election; it is necessary for the U.S. District Court to take that action. For some reason the Epps column refers to the case as Judge v Backer, but the correct name of the case is Judge v Quinn. The decision came out on June 26, 2010.

On June 18, Brian Moore, a long-time resident of Florida, filed to run for Governor in the Democratic Party primary. He will be the only opponent of Alex Sink. See this story, which focuses on the fact that Moore was the Socialist Party presidential candidate in 2008.

Moore’s ties with the Socialist Party have recently ended. Moore was also active in the Reform Party during 2004, the year the Reform Party nominated Ralph Nader for President.

June 18 was the deadline for candidates to file for election in Florida, for state office. The Florida deadline for congressional candidates was last month.

The Montana Republican Party recently decided not to hold a presidential nominating caucus in February 2012. Instead the party will treat its presidential primary in June 2012 as the method for selecting delegates. See this story.

In 2008, the June presidential primary was just a “beauty contest” for Republicans, with no binding force. The 2008 Republican delegates were chosen in a February caucus.

Montana primaries have always been open. Montana has never had registration by party.