On February 7, the South Dakota House of Representatives voted on HB 1272, which would move that state’s presidential primary from June to February 5. The vote was 35-35, so the bill failed, although the sponsor will seek reconsideration. The sponsor is Rep. Shantel Krebs (R-Sioux Falls).
Oklahoma HB 1790 was amended on February 7 to move the presidential primary from February 5 to February 2. HB 1790 is authored by John Trebilcock (R-Broken Arrow) but the amendment was the idea of Trebor Worthen (R-Oklahoma City).
Moving the presidential primary by only three days sounds peculiar, but so many other states are expected to vote on February 5, that the Oklahoma legislators seem to feel Oklahoma would be ignored if it had its primary on the same day as so many other states, whereas it would get a great deal of attention if it were on a day with only one other presidential primary (South Carolina’s Republican primary will also be on Feb. 2). Thanks to The Green Papers for this news.
The U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether to hear Washington state’s appeal in the “top-two” case on February 23. The case is Washington State v Republican Party of Washington, 06-730. Both the U.S. District Court and the 9th circuit had ruled that “top-two” violates the associational rights of political parties, and that if Washington state wants to hold a “top-two” primary, it must leave party labels off the ballot.
The U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether to hear Washington state’s appeal in the “top-two” case on February 23. The case is Washington State v Republican Party of Washington, 06-730. Both the U.S. District Court and the 9th circuit had ruled that “top-two” violates the associational rights of political parties, and that if Washington state wants to hold a “top-two” primary, it must leave party labels off the ballot.
Two Tennessee legislators, a Republican and a Democrat, have introduced a bill to set up a qualified minor party category in the Tennessee election law. The bills are SB 288 and HB 626. Tennessee hasn’t had a qualified party (other than the Democratic and Republican Parties) since 1972, but this bill would permit a new party to qualify with 2,500 signatures. It would then nominate its candidates by convention. Existing law requires 45,254 signatures for a new party.
