This is old news, but has not previously been mentioned by BAN. In 2018, the Kentucky legislature moved the petition deadline for non-presidential independent candidates, and the nominees of unqualified parties, from the second Tuesday in August, to the first Monday after the first Tuesday in June. The change, made by HB 381, passed unanimously in both houses. The Governor declined to sign it, but he didn’t veto it either, so it became law effective after the 2018 election.

The bill didn’t change the presidential petition, which continues to be in early September.

The only statewide races in Washington state this year are U.S. Senate and Secretary of State. All candidates run in the August 2 primary, and only the two top will appear on the November ballot. Filing has closed. Although there are many Democrats, Republicans, and independents who will be on the primary ballot for U.S. Senate, the only minor party with a candidate is the Socialist Workers Party, which is running Henry Clay Dennison. Here is a link to the Secretary of State’s candidate list.

In the U.S. House races, the only minor party candidates are an American Solidarity Party candidate in the 3rd district, and a Libertarian in the 8th district.

On June 10, the Federal Election Commission notified Howie Hawkins that he will not receive any primary season matching funds from his 2020 presidential campaign for the Green Party nomination. Although the FEC acknowledges that Howie received enough donations to qualify, it says he missed a procedural deadline.