A recent Quinnipiac Poll shows that the winner is not changed in the Pennsylvania US Senate race, whether the Green Party is on the ballot or not. Pennsylvania Democrats are in the process of challenging the statewide Green Party petition.
The poll, with the Green candidate, shows: Democratic 48%, Republican 42%, Green 5%, don’t know and other 5%.
The poll, without the Green candidate, shows: Democratic 51%, Republican 44%, don’t know and other 5%.
The Prohibition Party has been split into two competing national organizations ever since 2003. Because the national Prohibition Party is the beneficiary of an annual bequest (under the terms of the will of a party leader who died in the 1930’s) the Pennsylvania bank that handles the money has asked a state court to determine which faction is the legitimate faction. This lawsuit has not yet produced any settlement. Therefore, on October 5, the court will hold a status hearing and will probably proceed to a trial.
All briefs in Libertarian Party of New Mexico v Vigil-Giron, 06-0615, concerning injunctive relief, have now been filed. The case is pending in U.S. District Court. If the injunction is granted, the Libertarian Party’s statewide nominees will be on the November ballot.
On August 13, North Carolina House Bill 88 was signed into law. It lowers the number of signatures for a statewide independent party from 2% of the registered voters, to 2% of the last gubernatorial vote. It lowers the vote test for a party to remain on the ballot from 10%, to 2%. Unfortunately, it also imposes filing fees on independent candidates and candidates nominated by convention.
On August 14, a Manhatten State Supreme Court defeated the attempt of the state leaders of the New York Independence Party to expel over 100 members who are associated with Lenora Fulani. A similar decision from Brooklyn was made last week.
The New York case did not depend on procedures, as the Brooklyn case had. Instead, the New York decision goes to the issue itself. The state party leaders had tried to expel Lenora Fulani and her allies because of statements she had made in 1989 about Israel. The Manhatten court ruling says, “No evidence has been submitted that Respondents did, in fact, violate the principles of the Independence Party…While the Court is not going to speculate on the motive for bringing this Petition now, it appears to be more political than philsophical.” The decision also says the 1989 statements were not made in connection with political party activity (the party didn’t even exist until 1994).
