The Connecticut legislature adjourned, and failed to pass any of the 5 bills that would have eased the discriminatory aspects of the “Clean Elections” public funding bills. The Connecticut legislature had passed “Clean Elections” in 2005, but basically excluded all candidates except Democrats and Republicans. The funding does not begin until 2008, so it is possible something will be done in the 2007 legislative session. If not, the ACLU will sue on behalf of the Green Party.
Pennsylvania held primaries for the Republican and Democratic primaries on May 16. 61 state legislators had an opponent, and 18 state legislators were defeated for re-election. There are still 4 more races too close to call.
Kevin Zeese has been running for the U.S. Senate in Maryland for approximately six months, with the likely or certain endorsement of three different minor parties (Populist, Green and Libertarian). All three of those parties are on the Maryland ballot. However, Maryland law requires him to choose just one of them, and he has recently chosen “Green” for his ballot label. Zeese was an active supporter of Ralph Nader in 2004 and helped to create the Populist Party in Maryland (the Populist Party was formed largely as a vehicle for Nader’s candidacy, since the ballot access requirements are easier for new parties in Maryland than they are for independent candidates). Zeese’s chief issue is opposition to having the U.S. military in Iraq.
The US Supreme Court has put Lawrence v Blackwell on its conference calendar for June 1, Thursday. Conferences decide whether to hear certain cases. Results of that conference won’t be publicly known until Monday, June 5. Lawrence v Blackwell challenges the March 1 Ohio petition deadline (for office other than president). The 6th circuit upheld it, even though earlier, courts in 13 other states had struck down deadlines in April, May and June (for office other than president).
If the US Supreme Court accepts Lawrence v Blackwell, it will be the first time since 1991 that the Court accepted a ballot access case. That last case was Norman v Reed, an Illinois case won by the Harold Washington Party (an African-American Party that was trying to get on the ballot for partisan offices in Cook County, Illinois). Although that case won in the U.S. Surpreme Court, it only interpreted certain peculiar Illinois laws in a favorable manner, so it hasn’t been much use as a precedent elsewhere.
Illinois State Senator James Meeks announced on May 19 that he will not qualify the “Honesty and Integrity Party” for the statewide ballot this year. Last week he had said he would. Meeks met with Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich earlier in the day, and it is believed Meeks won a commitment for changes in the Governor’s budget for education at that meeting.
