Louisiana Closed Primary Bill Passes House Committee

Posted on by June 5, 2006
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On June 6, the Louisiana House Governmental Affairs Committee passed Senate Bill 18, by a vote of 6-1. This is the bill to provide for closed primaries for congressional elections. It has already passed the Senate. It provides for primaries for all qualified parties. Louisiana has 5 qualified parties: Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Green and Reform. The bill would provide that if a party has no contested primaries, then that party’s primary would not be held, and the single individual who filed, would be deemed nominated.

US Supreme Court Refuses Ohio Indp. Deadline Case

Posted on by June 5, 2006
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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.

Working Familes Cross-Endorses Democrats

Posted on by June 3, 2006
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On June 3, the Working Families Party of New York cross-endorsed the Democrats running for U.S. Senator and Governor. For U.S. Senate, Jonathan Tasini, who is critical of U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton’s stance on the Iraq war, had hoped to get at least 25% of the vote, so that he could qualify automatically for the party’s primary ballot. However, he only got 6%.

Indiana Democrats Fail to Nominate for US Senate

Posted on by June 3, 2006
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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.

N.Y. Independence Party Cross-Endorses Democrats

Posted on by June 3, 2006
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On June 3, the New York Independence Party state convention nominated leading Democrats for Governor and U.S. Senator. In the gubernatorial race, Eliot Spitzer received 81%, whereas William Weld received 3%. The other delegates abstained. In the U.S. Senate race, Hillary Clinton received 80%, and party member Joseph Farris 16%.