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U.S. District Court Strikes Down Some New Mexico Campaign Contribution Limits that Affect Political Parties

Posted on August 23, 2023 by Richard WingerAugust 23, 2023

On August 17, U.S. District Court Judge William P. Johnson, a Bush Jr. appointee, struck down three New Mexico campaign contribution limits, but upheld other campaign finance limits. Republican Party of New Mexico v Torrez, 1:11cv-900.

The laws struck down are: (1) a $5,500 limit on contributions from a state party to a county political party; (2) a $5,500 limit from a state party to its nominee for any office other than Governor; (3) an $11,000 limit on contributions from a party to its own gubernatorial nominee.

Laws upheld are: (1) a $27,500 limit on contributions from an individual to a party; (2) a $27,500 limit on contributions from a national party to a state party (however, the limit doesn’t apply to federal office).

Most of these laws were passed in 2009. This lawsuit was filed in 2011. In all those years, the laws had been partially enjoined and various softening amendments had passed the legislature. Thanks to the Institute for Free Speech for this news. Here is the decision. The decision has some useful tables showing the laws of all states. Page 34 compares all the states on the variable of how much individuals may give to a party. Page 51ff has charts on laws of each state on limits from national parties to state parties. At the end of the decision there is a chart showing each state’s limit on out-of-state contributions.

No Labels Starts Social Media Campaign in Maine Criticizing State’s Election Officials

Posted on August 23, 2023 by Bill RedpathAugust 23, 2023

No Labels is now recognized as a political party by ten US states, but not yet in Maine, where it is trying to become a political party by enrolling 5,000 Maine voters as No Labels registered voters. There has been controversy, however, as it has been claimed by the Maine Secretary of State that many enrollees thought they were only signing a candidate petition, not becoming members of a new political party in the eyes of the state, which would deny them the right to vote in other parties’ primaries in Maine. No Labels has responded by starting a social media campaign in Maine responding to these charges. Here is the story.

Cornel West Defends Green Party Presidential Bid on NBC’s Meet the Press Now

Posted on August 23, 2023 by Bill RedpathAugust 23, 2023

Cornel West took direct aim at the two party system and blasted the concept of minor party candidate vote stealing in this interview.

Jill Stein Asks for Rehearing in U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, Over repayment of 2016 Primary Season Matching Funds

Posted on August 22, 2023 by Richard WingerAugust 22, 2023

On August 21, Jill Stein asked for a rehearing in Stein v Federal Election Commission, 21-1213. The issue is whether she must repay some of her 2016 primary season matching funds. The original panel had ruled against her. Here is the petition for rehearing en banc.

Republican Presidential Debate Will Include Eight Candidates

Posted on August 22, 2023 by Richard WingerAugust 22, 2023

The first 2024 Republican presidential primary debate will be held Wednesday, August 23. Eight candidates qualified. They needed 1% in the polls plus at least 40,000 individual donors.

By contrast, the last time there were Republican presidential primary debates, in 2016, there were ten candidates in the main debate. Also there was a preliminary debate with seven other candidates.

The eight who will participate on August 23 are Doug Burgum, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Asa Hutchinson, Mike Pence, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Tim Scott.