Former Massachusetts Governor William Weld today announced that he is dropping out of the New York Republican primary race for Governor, “in the name of party unity.”

A Weld media staff member told Ballot Access News (on condition of anonymity) that Weld would also be dropping out as the Libertarian Party nominee.

Weld had been nominated by the New York State Libertarian Party as its candidate for Governor. At their state convention, Weld had promised LP members that he would continue to run as their party’s nominee regardless of his status on the Republican ticket.

On June 5, the US Supreme Court refused to hear Lawrence v Blackwell, 05-1089, the case challenging the March 1 petition deadline for independent candidates for Congress in Ohio.

The Supreme Court thus continues its pattern of hostility to minor party and independent candidates. Since 1992, every time a minor party or independent candidate wins in a US Court of Appeals and the state appeals to the US Supreme Court, the US Supreme Court grants the state’s appeal and reverses. This has happened 3 times since 1992, in cases from Arkansas (debates), Minnesota (fusion), and Oklahoma (political party control over who votes in its primary).

But whenever a minor party or independent candidate loses in a US Court of Appeals, and asks for US Supreme Court review, the Court says “No”. Since 1992, this has happened in Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

The Indiana Democratic Party held its state convention on June 3, but failed to nominate anyone for U.S. Senate. No one had run in the party’s primary for that post last month. Since the nomination is vacant, the party could have nominated someone at the convention, but chose not to do so. An independent candidate, Rick Hale, will try to get on the ballot. If he fails, the only nominees on the November ballot will be the Republican and the Libertarian.