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Greens and Libertarians Win Partisan Elections

Posted on November 7, 2007 by Richard WingerNovember 7, 2007

On November 7, members and nominees of the Green and Libertarian Parties won both partisan elections, and non-partisan elections. This post covers partisan elections.

Green Party: in New Haven, Connecticut, Green Party nominee Allan Benson defeated his Democratic opponent by 57.7% to 42.3%, for Ward 10 alderman. The vote was 386 to 283.

In Albany County, New York, Green Party nominee David Lussier, a masters degree student in Urban Planning, defeated his Democratic opponent 50.2% to 49.8%, for County Legislator, district 7. However, not all the absentee votes have been counted. So far the tally is 531 to 526. The Democratic nominee had defeated the incumbent Democrat in the September 2007 primary, and many Democrats were unhappy with that result and supported the Green nominee.

In Windham, Connecticut, one of the Green Party of Connecticut’s state chairs, Jean de Smet, was elected Selectman. She defeated both a Democratic nominee and a Republican nominee. She was running under the party label “Bottom Line Slate”. She polled 45.2%; the Democrat polled 41.8%; the Republican 13.0%. The vote was 1,637; 1,514; and 471.

Libertarian Party: Susan Bell was unanimously re-elected Town Court Judge in Hagerstown, Indiana. This is a partisan election. UPDATE: There is a second Libertarian partisan winner in Indiana. Michael Sloan was elected unanimously to the Pottawatomie Park Town Council.

Three Pennsylvania Libertarian nominees won partisan elections in Pennsylvania: Myron Dietrick was elected Avis Borough Mayor (Clinton County). Mary Lea Lucas was elected to the Borough Council in Strattenville (Clarion County). Erik Viker was elected to the Selinsgrove Borough Council (Snyder County).

Mississippi Constitution Party Sets Record

Posted on November 7, 2007 by Richard WingerNovember 7, 2007

On November 7, the Constitution Party nominee for Agriculture Commissioner, Paul Riley, polled approximately 7.0% of the vote. He had both a Democratic and a Republican opponent. With 99% of the votes counted, Riley has 49,382 votes. The Republican nominee has 356,483 and the Democratic nominee has 295,151.

This is the highest percentage of the vote for a minor party candidate for state or federal office in Mississippi in at least 100 years, if one is including only races in which there was also a Democrat and a Republican in the race.

Although Strom Thurmond carried Mississippi for president in 1948, he was on the ballot in Mississippi as the Democratic nominee (Harry Truman was listed as an independent). In 1968, George Wallace carried Mississippi for president, but he was on the ballot as an independent candidate.

Mississippi voters in recent years have been very supportive of minor party nominees, if the race was one with only one major party in the race. For example, in 1998, Libertarian William Chipman polled 28.84% for U.S. House and even carried one populous county in his district, but he had no Republican opponent. In 2003, Reform Party nominee Billy Blackburn received 23.69% for Auditor, but he had no Democratic nominee.

Also in the November 7, 2007 election, a Constitution Party nominee for State Senate, Parker Dykes, running in the 35th district, polled approximately 32.1% in a two-party race.

Michigan Court Says Giving List of Presidential Primary Participants Only to the Parties is Unconstitutional

Posted on November 7, 2007 by Richard WingerNovember 7, 2007

On November 7, a lower state court in Michigan ruled that it is unconstitutional for the state to hold presidential primaries for the two major parties and then give the list of participants only to those two major parties. Grebner v State of Michigan, Ingham County Circuit Court. Judge William Collette ruled from the bench at the conclusion of the hearing. A quick appeal is virtually certain. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.

Hearing in Michigan Case Over Access to Voter List

Posted on November 6, 2007 by Richard WingerNovember 6, 2007

On November 7, a Michigan state court will hear Grebner v State. This is the interesting lawsuit over whether Michigan’s presidential primary law is constitutional. The law provides that voters cannot vote in either major party presidential primary unless they sign in as either a Democrat or as a Republican. The law further provides that the contact information for these voters will be given to the appropriate major party, but that the information is otherwise secret. The plaintiff argues that such lists cannot be kept secret. Thanks to Tony Roza for this news.

November 6, 2007 Election Returns

Posted on November 6, 2007 by Richard WingerNovember 6, 2007

See http://thirdpartywatch.com for a good summary of how various minor party candidates did in the November 6, 2007 election.

In Kentucky, Republican Secretary of State Trey Grayson was re-elected. Grayson wants to eliminate the straight-ticket device, while Grayson’s Democratic opponent supports it.

Two of the three independents in the Virginia House of Delegates, Lacey Putney and Watkins Abbitt, were re-elected. The third independent, Katherine Waddell, was defeated.