Washington state law gives a committee the power to set the state’s presidential primary date. That committee met on March 23, but failed to agree on moving the primary from May to February. The Committee cannot act unless at least six members agree. The five Republicans voted for a February 5 primary, but the 4 Democrats voted for a March 18 primary. This produced a stalemate, so the primary remains in May. Some legislative leaders want to cancel it and use caucuses instead.
On March 22, Mississippi Insurance Commissioner George Dale filed a lawsuit in state court to obtain a place on this year’s Democratic primary, which is held in August. He has been elected as the Democratic nominee in every election since 1975. But this year the party refused to accept him as a candidate, since the party says Dale supported President Bush in 2004. Nothing in the Mississippi election code gives a political party the authority to evaluate the political actions of individuals who wish to run in party primaries. The case is Dale v Mississippi Democratic Party, 7th Circuit Court, 251-07-268. Thanks to Steve Rankin for this news.
On March 22, the Arizona Judiciary Committee passed SB 1430. It moves the Arizona primary from mid-September to early September. Because Arizona ties the independent candidate petition deadline to the same date that primary candidates must file, the bill indirectly makes the independent candidate petition deadline earlier than it has been. The bill has already passed the Senate.
Arizona already has the 2nd earliest independent presidential petition deadline in the nation (only Texas is earlier). This bill, in some presidential election years, would have the petition due in late May instead of early June. The issue of the deadline is already pending in the 9th circuit in Nader v Brewer (briefs have been filed, but a hearing date hasn’t been set yet). It is ironic that a bill would pass, making the deadline even worse, while the issue is pending in court.
The sponsor, Senator Karen Johnson, says she doesn’t want to make things worse for independent candidates, yet so far she has failed to amend her bill. She could easily do so, by adding a provision that cuts the link between the petition deadline for independent candidates and the petition deadline for candidates getting on a primary ballot. Senator Johnson’s phone number is 602-926-3160. Please telephone her office and ask that she amend SB 1430 so that it does not injure independent candidates.
On March 22, Texas Representative Leo Berman (R-Tyler) said he won’t hold a hearing on HB 2280. This is the bill to ease ballot access by repealing the primary screen-out. “Primary screen-out” is a law making it illegal for primary voters to sign a petition for a new party or an independent candidate.
Representative Berman says he believes in the principle of the primary screen-out, and that is why he won’t even hold a hearing on the bill. It might be possible to amend the bill so that it leaves the primary screen-out in place and instead lowers the number of signatures.
On March 22, Texas Representative Leo Berman (R-Tyler) said he won’t hold a hearing on HB 2280. This is the bill to ease ballot access by repealing the primary screen-out. “Primary screen-out” is a law making it illegal for primary voters to sign a petition for a new party or an independent candidate.
Representative Berman says he believes in the principle of the primary screen-out, and that is why he won’t even hold a hearing on the bill. It might be possible to amend the bill so that it leaves the primary screen-out in place and instead lowers the number of signatures.
