At the November 2022 election, there were 56 minor party and independent candidates for federal or state office who received more votes than the margin of victory, according to Ballotpedia. Most of the candidates were running for state legislature. See here. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.
Missouri State Senator Sandy Crawford (R-Buffalo) has introduced SB 102. It would require initiative circulators to be registered voters in Missouri. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1999 in Buckley v American Constitutional Law Foundation that states cannot require circulators to be registered voters. Thanks to Ken Bush for the news about SB 102.
This newspaper story reveals that Kent Thiry, a Colorado businessman who has spent tens of millions of dollars on Colorado initiatives related to election law, is backing HB 23-101. That is the bill which would end the ability of qualified minor parties to nominate candidates, without a difficult petition drive for each minor party nominee. The bill has a hearing on Thursday February 16. The Colorado League of Women Voters is opposing the bill.
Ohio State Senator William DeMora (D-Franklin) has introduced SB 55. It would move the primary for all office (in presidential years) from March to May. Existing law puts the primary for all office in March in presidential years, but in May in non-presidential years. An identical bill in the House, HB 21, is introduced by Representative Daniel Troy (D-Willowick).
If either bill passed, it would improve the filing deadline for non-presidential independent candidates, which is the day before the primary. The deadline in presidential years would move from March to May.
Idaho representative Dustin Manwaring (R-Pocatello) has introduced HB 138, to move the presidential primary from March to May. If enacted, the bill would not have any effect on minor party or independent petition deadlines.
