Rogers, Arkansas, is in the northwestern part of the state. The high school, which has 1,500 students, recently held a Mock Election. The gubernatorial results: Governor: Democrat Mike Beebe 39.5%, Republican Asa Hutchinson 36.8%, Green Jim Lendall 11.1%, independent Rod Bryan 7.5%.
Rogers is in Benton County, where 68.4% of the voters voted for President Bush in 2004.
Ballot access activists in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania are doing an excellent job, publicizing the issue and working for legislative change in 2007. The Oklahoma Ballot Group, and the Oklahoma Coalition of Independents, have been asking Democratic and Republican state legislators whether they will support improving the ballot access laws next year. They have identified Senator Randy Brogdon (R), Senator Andrew Rice (D), and these House members: Jason Murphy (R), Ryan McMullen (D), Ron Peterson (R), Jennifer Seal (D), and Rae Weese (D).
In Pennsylvania, a pro-ballot access reform rally was held at the State Capitol on October 31. The rally attracted press attention, which caused a reporter to ask Governor Ed Rendell about his ideas on ballot access reform. The Governor, who is likely to be re-elected next week, said he has no plans to ask the legislature to improve the law. He also said that the law isn’t impossible since “some people made the ballot.” He seems not to realize that no statewide minor party or independent candidates succeeded in Pennsylvania this year, and that Pennsylvania is one of only 4 states with a ballot monopoly for the two major parties in all statewide races.
Constitutional lawsuits attacking the laws of both states are pending in federal court in Pennsylvania, and state court in Oklahoma.
On October 31, the Rockford Register Star endorsed Richard Whitney for Illinois Governor. It said “A new party has the best chance to bring honest government to Illinois”, and also agreed with Whitney’s stance on school finance, job creation and the environment. Rockford is the home town of former Congressman John B. Anderson, who polled 7% for president in the U.S. in 1980, and polled 21.5% in Winnebago County (the county that contains Rockford).
Ben Meiklejohn, Green nominee for the Maine State House in the 120th district, is considered somewhat likely to win his race. A few weeks ago, the Republican in the race dropped out and endorsed Meiklejohn. Meiklejohn is an elected office-holder already; he is a member of the Portland School Committee. The Republican candidate’s name appeared on the ballot for early voting, but voters were given a piece of paper telling them that he had dropped out and that votes for him would be considered blank. The election-day ballots will list only Meiklejohn and his Democratic opponent.
Maine Greens already hold one legislative seat, that of John Eder, who is running for re-election in the 118th district.
An Illinois gubernatorial poll released October 31 shows these results: Democratic Rod Blagojevich 44%, Republican Judy Baar Topinka 29%, Green Richard Whitney 13%, undecided 14%. The poll was for the Chicago Tribune and WGN-Channel 9.
As noted before, if the Green Party polls 5% or more for Governor, it will be a ballot-qualified party for all partisan office in the state for both 2008 and 2010. This will be the first time a nationally-organized party (other than the Democrats and Republicans) will have held that status in Illinois since the 1910’s decade. The Illinois Solidary Party held that status in Illinois 1986-1990, but it was just a party in Illinois.
