All briefs in Libertarian Party of New Mexico v Vigil-Giron, 06-0615, concerning injunctive relief, have now been filed. The case is pending in U.S. District Court. If the injunction is granted, the Libertarian Party’s statewide nominees will be on the November ballot.
On August 13, North Carolina House Bill 88 was signed into law. It lowers the number of signatures for a statewide independent party from 2% of the registered voters, to 2% of the last gubernatorial vote. It lowers the vote test for a party to remain on the ballot from 10%, to 2%. Unfortunately, it also imposes filing fees on independent candidates and candidates nominated by convention.
On August 14, a Manhatten State Supreme Court defeated the attempt of the state leaders of the New York Independence Party to expel over 100 members who are associated with Lenora Fulani. A similar decision from Brooklyn was made last week.
The New York case did not depend on procedures, as the Brooklyn case had. Instead, the New York decision goes to the issue itself. The state party leaders had tried to expel Lenora Fulani and her allies because of statements she had made in 1989 about Israel. The Manhatten court ruling says, “No evidence has been submitted that Respondents did, in fact, violate the principles of the Independence Party…While the Court is not going to speculate on the motive for bringing this Petition now, it appears to be more political than philsophical.” The decision also says the 1989 statements were not made in connection with political party activity (the party didn’t even exist until 1994).
On August 14, the Nebraska Secretary of State accepted the Green Party as a ballot-qualified party for the entire state. The party will have two statewide nominees on the ballot this year, and since one of them has no Democrat in the race, it is extremely likely the Greens will poll over 5% and also be ballot-qualified in 2008. The other ballot-qualified minor party this year in Nebraska is the Constitution Party.
On August 14, Congressman Bob Ney withdrew as a candidate for re-election, in Ohio’s 18th U.S. House district. He had been re-nominated in the March 2006 primary, but later decided he didn’t want to run for another term. In accordance with Ohio law, the Republican Party will be given its own primary sometime in mid-September, to choose a new nominee.
