The deadline for presidential candidates to file in the Illinois Green Party, and the Illinois Democratic Party, had been in early November. Challenges to the petitions of all Green and all Democratic presidential candidates had been filed. However, all challenges to both sets of candidates were found baseless, and were dismissed, on December 6.

The four Greens running in the Illinois presidential primary are Cynthia McKinney, Jared Ball, Kent Mesplay, and Howie Hawkins.

The Illinois Green presidential primary is only the 3rd minor party presidential primary in that state since the 1920’s. The other two were the Illinois Solidarity presidential primary in 1988 (won by Lenora Fulani), and the Libertarian presidential primary in 1996 (won by Harry Browne).

As noted below, Florida Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson lost his lawsuit against the Democratic National Committee on December 5, on the issue of Florida voters having no representation in the process by which the Democratic Party chooses its presidential nominee. Senator Nelson said late on December 5 that he will not appeal.

This development gives new importance to the lawsuit filed by some Florida Democrats against the Secretary of State, alleging that the Florida law setting the presidential primary date in January violates the Florida and U.S. Constitutions. That case was filed on November 20. The attorney for the plaintiffs has asked the Leon County Circuit Court for a hearing date, to consider his motion for injunctive relief. The case is Ausman v Browning, 2007-ca-3233.

On December 5, at 5 pm central time, filing closed for Republicans running in the Illinois presidential primary. Candidates needed 3,000 signatures. The Illinois State Board of Elections web site shows that the following Republicans filed: Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Alan Keyes, John McCain, James Creighton Mitchell, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo, and Fred Thompson.

The web site shows that Mike Huckabee did not file until 4:56 pm on November 5. The State Board of Elections did not post notice that he had filed for 45 minutes. An earlier post here wondered if Huckabee had filed, but he did.