As Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and his supporters, mull over strategy for getting on the ballot, this information may be helpful to them.

In 1924, U.S. Senator Robert La Follette launched an independent presidential candidacy with the “Progressive” label. La Follete did not consider himself a socialist but he was happy to have the nomination of the Socialist Party, because without it he could not have been on the ballot in California. California at the time did not permit independent presidential canddiates and it was too late to get a new party on the California ballot.

In 1936, Congressman William Lemke launched a presidential campaign under the banner of the Union Party, a new party. But he was happy to have the nomination of The Third Party of Michigan, a pre-qualified party. Without it, Lemke could not have been on the ballot in Michigan, because Michigan didn’t allow independent presidential candidates and it was too late for a new party to qualify in Michigan.

In 1948, Henry Wallace launched a new Progressive Party, but he also depended on the pre-existing American Labor Party so that he didn’t need a New York petition.

Also in 1948, Strom Thurmond launched an independent presidential candidacy with the label “States Rights” or “States Rights Democrat”, but he was happy to have the nomination of the Democratic Parties of South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

In 1968, George Wallace launched an independent presidential campaign using various labels, mostly “American”, “American Independent”, or “George Wallace Party.” But he was happy to have the nomination of the pre-qualified Conservative Party of Kansas, because otherwise he probably could not have been on the Kansas ballot. Kansas did not allow independent presidential candidates, and the law on how a new party got on the Kansas ballot at the time was extremely vague and unclear.

In 1980, John B. Anderson launched an independent presidential campaign mostly using the label “independent”, but also in some states “Anderson Coalition.” But he was happy to have the nomination of the pre-qualified Liberal Party of New York.

Ralph Nader ran as an independent in both 2004 and 2008, and both times he was glad to have the nomination of some pre-qualified minor parties. In 2004 they were the Reform Party, the New York Independence Party, the Delaware Independent Party, and the South Carolina Independence Party. In 2008 they were the Independent Party of Connecticut, the Peace & Freedom Party of California, the Independent Party of Delaware, the Natural Law Party of Michigan, and the Independence Party of South Carolina.

On September 28, the Fifth Circuit voted to rehear Hopkins v Hosemann, 19-60662. The original panel in August had struck down Mississippi’s ban on ex-felons registering to vote, on the grounds that such a policy violates the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.

For the rehearing, all the full-time judges of the Fifth Circuit will participate. All the new briefs will be in by November 29, unless one side asks for more time. Thanks to Mike Drucker for this news.

On September 26, the Ohio Senate General Government Committee held a hearing on SB 147, which would switch Ohio from an open primary state to a closed primary state. The Committee hasn’t acted yet on the bill.