News media are reporting that Sam Brownback will withdraw from the Republican presidential race on Friday, October 19. That will make the third Republican who was permitted to participate in presidential debates this year, who then withdrew. The others have been Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin and Jim Gilmore of Virginia. This phenomenon, of major party members campaigning during most of the odd year before a presidential election, and then dropping out before any voting has taken place, is relatively new in U.S. presidential politics.

Cynthia McKinney is circulating a petition to get her name on the Illinois Green Party’s presidential primary. All candidates in Illinois presidential primaries need 3,000 signatures. Such petitions are due the first week in November.

On October 17, the Arkansas Green Party was notified that its petition has been certified. It is the only Arkansas party, other than the Democratic and Republican Parties, that is on the ballot for all office (the Libertarian Party is on for president only).

Now, the only states with no ballot-qualified parties, other than the Democratic and Republican Parties, are Alabama, Iowa, Kentucky, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington (14 states). In Georgia, where the Libertarian Party is the only ballot-qualified minor party, it is only ballot-qualified for statewide office, not district or county office.

The New Mexico Secretary of State is threatening to declare that the Green Party is not ballot-qualified, but seems to be having trouble making up her mind. She may rule today (October 17).