Working Families Party Has Candidates in Four States

Posted on by September 24, 2008
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The Working Families Party, which started out in 1998 as a party only in New York state, has been expanding into other states. This year it has candidates for partisan office for the first time in Oregon and Delaware. It also has candidates in New York and Connecticut, as it did in 2006 and 2004.

In Delaware, the Democratic Party has exerted considerable pressure on all Democratic nominees, not to accept the nomination of the Working Families Party as well (Delaware permits fusion). However, this year in Delaware, three Democrats bucked their own party and accepted the Working Families nomination. The Working Families Party also cross-endorsed three Republican nominees for state house.

The Working Families Party tried to have nominees this year in South Carolina, but Democratic Party officials persuaded various Democrats not to accept the WFP cross-endorsement.

New York City Republicans Fail to Replace Nominee in Staten Island Congressional Race

Posted on by September 24, 2008
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On September 24, New York Republican Party attempts to place Vito Fossella on the November ballot as their nominee for U.S. House, 13th district, came to nothing. The Republican primary earlier this month had been won by Robert A. Straniere. Fossella had not run for re-election. But Republicans fear that Straniere will lose, so they nominated Straniere (without his knowledge) for Justice of the New York Supreme Court in Manhatten. If Straniere had accepted that nomination, the law would have permitted the Republicans to replace him with anyone they wished, and they would have chosen Fossella.

But Straniere wants to run for Congress, so he declined the Judicial race nomination. He withdrew in person at the Board of Elections, so there would be no confusion. See this story.

Washington State Democrats Sue Over "GOP" Label on Ballot

Posted on by September 24, 2008
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On September 23, Washington state Democrats filed a lawsuit in state court against the Secretary of State, who plans to print “Prefers GOP” on the November ballot next to the name of Dino Rossi, one of the two ballot-listed candidates for Governor. The lawsuit alleges that the Secretary of State should print “Prefers Republican” instead. It is common knowledge that Rossi is a Republican. Here is the complaint.

The law says candidates are free to say which political party they prefer, and furthermore the law says any group is a political party. A major party is one that polled 5% in the last election, but a minor party is any organization that is not a major party. The lawsuit also faces procedural hurdles. The Secretary of State says it should have been filed back in June, when the list of candidates and their preferences was made public. The case is Smith v Reed, in King County Superior Court, 08-2-33009-5. It has a hearing Friday, September 26, at 9 a.m., before Judge Eadie.

A poll (which is hard to believe) shows that when Rossi is listed as a Republican, he trails by 10%; but when he is listed as “GOP”, he is ahead by 4%.

Washington State Democrats Sue Over “GOP” Label on Ballot

Posted on by September 24, 2008
Reply

On September 23, Washington state Democrats filed a lawsuit in state court against the Secretary of State, who plans to print “Prefers GOP” on the November ballot next to the name of Dino Rossi, one of the two ballot-listed candidates for Governor. The lawsuit alleges that the Secretary of State should print “Prefers Republican” instead. It is common knowledge that Rossi is a Republican. Here is the complaint.

The law says candidates are free to say which political party they prefer, and furthermore the law says any group is a political party. A major party is one that polled 5% in the last election, but a minor party is any organization that is not a major party. The lawsuit also faces procedural hurdles. The Secretary of State says it should have been filed back in June, when the list of candidates and their preferences was made public. The case is Smith v Reed, in King County Superior Court, 08-2-33009-5. It has a hearing Friday, September 26, at 9 a.m., before Judge Eadie.

A poll (which is hard to believe) shows that when Rossi is listed as a Republican, he trails by 10%; but when he is listed as “GOP”, he is ahead by 4%.