Louisiana Two Special U.S. House Elections

Posted on by February 7, 2008
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Louisiana will hold two special U.S. House elections, to fill vacancies, either on April 5 or May 3. Filing has closed.

The First District seat is vacant because the former Congressman, Bobby Jindal, was elected Governor last year. That race will feature a Republican, a Democrat, an independent (R. A. “Skip” Galan), and Anthony Gentile, who is state chair of the Independent American Party. The two major party nominees will be chosen in March in a semi-closed primary.

The Sixth District seat is vacant because the former Congressman, Richard Baker, resigned to take a job in the hedge fund industry. It will feature a Republican, a Democrat, a Constitution Party member, and two independents. The Constitution Party member is Randall T. Hayes. The two independents are Peter Aranyosi and Ashley Casey.

Although Louisiana recognizes the Green, Libertarian and Reform Parties, and holds primaries for them, no one from those parties filed. Since the Constitution Party is not ballot-qualified, Hayes may not have “Constitution Party” on the ballot next to his name; instead he will be labeled an “other” candidate. Similarly, for the First District race, Anthony Gentile may not have “Independent American Party” next to his name since his party is not ballot-qualified either.

Mississippi Supreme Court Reverses Lower Court, Says No Special Election for US Senate Until November

Posted on by February 6, 2008
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On February 6, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that the special election to fill Trent Lott’s US Senate seat should not be held until November. The lower court had ruled that it should be in March. The case is State ex rel Hood v Barbour, and involved how to interpret an unclear Mississippi election law relating to special elections for US Senate. Thanks to Steve Rankin for this news.

Minnesota Secretary of State Tabulates Caucuses for 5 Parties

Posted on by February 6, 2008
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Minnesota does not hold presidential primaries. Instead, all parties that wish to hold caucuses. The Minnesota Secretary of State collects the results and posts them on his web page, even for parties that aren’t ballot-qualified.

The Independence Party caucuses and the Green Party caucuses will be March 4. The Constitution Party caucus was February 5. Results are: Ron Paul 65, Mike Huckabee 3, Alan Keyes 3, Mitt Romney 2, Jerome Corsi 1, other 1, 7 undecided.

Green Party Presidential Primaries

Posted on by February 6, 2008
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Four states held Green Party presidential primaries on February 5. Arkansas and California state elections officials have incomplete, unofficial results, but Illinois and Massachusetts elections officials do not provide that service.

Arkansas: With only three-fourths of the counties reporting so far, the results are: uncommitted 273; Cynthia McKinney 116; Jared Ball 54; Kent Mesplay 48; Kat Swift 26. Ralph Nader was unable to have his name on this ballot since he hasn’t declared his candidacy. Arkansas Greens have severely criticized Pulaski County (the most populous county in the state) election administrators, for not making Green Party ballots available in many precincts.

California: with 96% of the precincts reporting (but many uncounted absentee and provisional ballots), the results are: Ralph Nader 16,835; Cynthia McKinney 7,124; Elaine Brown 1,259; Kat Swift 843; Kent Mesplay 564; Jesse Johnson 506; Jared Ball 444.

Illinois: check back for better results. The Chicago Tribune reports 1,446 for Cynthia McKinney, 438 for Howie Hawkins, 369 for Kent Mesplay, and 302 for Jared Ball. Thanks to Brian (commenter below) for these returns. As in Arkansas, Green Party activists are making a determined effort to alert the press in Illinois of election day problems. In Cook County and certain other counties, there were many precincts in which elections officials told voters that there is no Green Party primary ballot.

Massachusetts: check back for better results. Fragmentary returns suggest that the race between Ralph Nader and Cynthia McKinney is extremely close.