The South Carolina legislature abolished fusion this year, but the bill doesn’t take effect for the 2022 election. The Alliance Party has nominated the Democratic nominee for State Superintendent of Education, so she will appear on the November ballot twice, once under each party label. That will probably be the last fusion example in the state for many years, and perhaps forever. Thanks to Scott West for this news.

The South Carolina Democratic Party has no nominee for several statewide races this year, including Agriculture Commissioner, Comptroller, Treasurer, and Attorney General. Also the party still doesn’t have a nominee for Lieutenant Governor, but it will choose one soon.

On July 29, the People’s Party asked the Eleventh Circuit for injunctive relief against the law that prohibits from running any nominees this year, even though it is a ballot-qualified party. People’s Party of Florida v Florida Department of State, 22-12451. Here is the opening brief.

On July 29, the Georgia Libertarian Party asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Cowen v Georgia Secretary of State. Here is the cert Petition. The case involves the Georgia law for minor party and independent candidate ballot access for U.S. House. The U.S. District Court had struck it down, but the Eleventh Circuit had restored it. It is so restrictive, no minor party has ever been able to be on the ballot for U.S. House in a regularly-schedule election since 1942. The law was passed in 1943.