The challenge process for the Pennsylvania Green Party statewide petition is finally over. The tally is 58,139 valid signatures. This is more valid signatures than any other minor party or independent candidate collected anywhere in the U.S. this year, except that in Texas, the two independent gubernatorial candidates collected more.
Now the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will decide how many signatures were required this year, 67,070 or 15,494.
On September 11, a lower state court in Nebraska ruled that if a party holds a primary for a particular office and no one runs in it, later that same party can nominate someone by convention. The Democratic Party won this case, and was able to nominate a candidate for State Auditor by convention held after the primary (no one had run for that office in the Democratic primary in May). State ex rel Witek v Gale, Lancaster Co. Dist. Court. The precedent will help other parties in Nebraska in the future.
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.
