Rhode Island has had a party called the Cool Moose Party since 1994. At the November 7, 2006 election, its founder, attorney Robert J. Healey, polled 13.4% of the vote for Lieutenant Governor. He campaigned on a pledge to try to abolish the office. The Democrat polled 53.1%, and the Republican polled 33.5%.
The Cool Moose is not a qualified party; only if it had polled 5% for Governor or President would it be qualified.
Rhode Island has had a party called the Cool Moose Party since 1994. At the November 7, 2006 election, its founder, attorney Robert J. Healey, polled 13.4% of the vote for Lieutenant Governor. He campaigned on a pledge to try to abolish the office. The Democrat polled 53.1%, and the Republican polled 33.5%.
The Cool Moose is not a qualified party; only if it had polled 5% for Governor or President would it be qualified.
Montana voters choose the Clerk of the State Supreme Court in a partisan election (Indiana is the only other state in which voters vote on that office). At last week’s election in Montana, there were 3 candidates on the ballot: a Democrat, a Constitution Party nominee, and a Libertarian. The unofficial results are: Democrat Ed Smith 221,756 (64.16%); Constitution nominee Ron Marquardt 85,972 (24.88%); Libertarian nominee Howard Scott Butler, 37,882 (10.96%).
On November 14, a U.S. District Court in Indiana issued an injunction against Indiana regulations that make it impermissible for candidates for State Judge to answer questionaires about their legal and political views. Indiana Right to Life v Shepard, 4:04cv-0071 (northern district).
On November 13, state Superior Court Judge Stephanie Joannides heard oral arguments in Green Party of Alaska v State, 3AN-05-10787. The issue is Alaska’s definition of “party”. That definition says that a party without registration of 3% must poll 3% for Governor, in gubernatorial years. The case was filed in the past, at a time when Greens had polled 3% for U.S. Senate and U.S. House, but not Governor.
Although it is true that in 2006, the Green Party didn’t poll 3% for any statewide race, and thus will not be on the ballot automatically for 2008 even if it wins the case, both sides seemed to agree that the 2006 election results are immaterial to a judgment about the law. No one claimed the lawsuit is moot.
Judge Joannides is the same judge who earlier granted an injunction keeping the party on the Alaska ballot while the case is pending. She said she would rule as quickly as she can.
In 1982, the Alaska Supreme Court said that ballot access has greater protection under the Alaska Constitution, than under the U.S. Constitution. Therefore, ever since, all constitutional ballot access cases in Alaska have always been filed in state court, not federal court.
