Ten North Carolina Republican State Senators have introduced S150, to establish a presidential primary on the first Tuesday of February. If the bill passed, North Carolina would continue to have its primary for other office in May.
North Carolina held its presidential primary in May, in the past, except that in 1976 and 1988 it held it in March.
On February 11, the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs passed S.160 by a vote of 11-1. It permanently expands the size of the U.S. House, and gives the District of Columbia its own member of the U.S. House. It also temporarily gives a new seat to Utah.
Three Republican Senators were present at the Committee voting session. Senators Susan Collins (Maine) and George Voinovich (Ohio) voted “Yes”. Senator John McCain voted “No.” Three other Republican Senators were not there, but they said they would have voted “No” if they had been there. They are Tom Coburn (Oklahoma), John Ensign (Nevada), and Lindsey Graham (South Carolina). Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.
The February 12 Wall Street Journal has this interesting op-ed on why lawsuits filed, alleging that the Constitution is being ignored, so seldom win. The problem is that courts often rule that the plaintiffs lack standing, because they haven’t been particularly injured. The focus of the article is the current lawsuit alleging that Hillary Clinton is not eligible to be Secretary of State, but the article also focuses on lawsuits concerning the eligibility of Barack Obama and John McCain to be president. Thanks to Bill Van Allen for the link.
California holds a special election for the vacant 51st district State Senate in Los Angeles County on March 24. Six Democrats, one Peace & Freedom Party member, and one Republican are running. Since two of the Democrats are incumbent Assemblymembers, it is extremely likely that no one will get 50% of the vote. In that case, there will be a run-off on May 19 between the Peace and Freedom nominee, Cindy Henderson, and the Democrat who gets the most votes in March, and the lone Republican. The district is overwhelmingly Democratic. The seat is vacant because Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas resigned to become a Los Angeles County Supervisor.
California holds a special election for the vacant 51st district State Senate in Los Angeles County on March 24. Six Democrats, one Peace & Freedom Party member, and one Republican are running. Since two of the Democrats are incumbent Assemblymembers, it is extremely likely that no one will get 50% of the vote. In that case, there will be a run-off on May 19 between the Peace and Freedom nominee, Cindy Henderson, and the Democrat who gets the most votes in March, and the lone Republican. The district is overwhelmingly Democratic. The seat is vacant because Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas resigned to become a Los Angeles County Supervisor.
