For the first time in decades, fusion will occur this year between a major party and a minor party in Delaware. Barbara Lifflander, a member of the Independent Party, won the Democratic primary for State Representative, District 41. Therefore, she will be listed twice on the ballot. Voters can vote for her under either the “Democratic” label or the “Independent” label. The district is currently represented by a Republican who is running for re-election.
On September 22, Washington state officials said they will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the 9th circuit’s decision that outlawed the “top-two” primary. The 9th circuit had ruled on August 23, and had said that since Washington state prints party labels on ballots, therefore the state must honor a party’s right to nominate its own candidates without members of other parties participating. If the U.S. Supreme Court won’t take the case, the Grange will circulate a new initiative, making all elections in the state (except presidential elections) non-partisan.
On September 22, Washington state officials said they will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the 9th circuit’s decision that outlawed the “top-two” primary. The 9th circuit had ruled on August 23, and had said that since Washington state prints party labels on ballots, therefore the state must honor a party’s right to nominate its own candidates without members of other parties participating. If the U.S. Supreme Court won’t take the case, the Grange will circulate a new initiative, making all elections in the state (except presidential elections) non-partisan.
The Vermont Progressive Party ran eleven candidates for State House of Representatives in 2004, and elected six of them. This year, the party is running seventeen candidates for State House, the most ever. One of the Progressives (Dexter Randall) won the Democratic and Republican nominations as well, so he is certain to be re-elected. Another six Progressives won the Democratic primary.
It is possible that four parties will be represented in the Vermont House after the November 2006 election, since five Libertarians won Republican primaries as well (three of those five primaries were contested). Seven Libertarians were running for the Vermont House of Representatives. If things had gone as planned, that would have meant five with the ballot label “Libertarian, Republican” and two as “Libertarian”. But due to late postal delivery, documents for four candidates were delivered late, so that there now only six Libertarians on the ballot. One has the label “Libertarian”, two have “Libertarian, Republican” and three have just “Republican”, even though they were also nominated by the Libertarian Party.
The 6th circuit struck down the Ohio law on how new and minor parties get on the ballot, on September 6, 2006. If the state wanted a rehearing, the rules required it to ask for a rehearing by September 20. The state did not do so. But, the state has now asked for an extension of time to do so, until October 4. The state’s excuse for being late is that “the issue is of great public importance”, and also that the court should consider the impact on this case, of the 7th circuit’s decision striking down the Illinois petition for independent candidates for the legislature that came down on September 18. This is peculiar logic, since the 7th circuit case also struck down a ballot access law, and the 7th circuit decision therefore gives no comfort to those who are unhappy with the 6th circuit’s opinion.
