On July 30, U.S. District Court Judge Sara Darrow issued an opinion in Flowers v Illinois State Board of Elections, c.d., 4:26cv-4062. This is a lawsuit against the Illinois 5% petition for independent candidates for U.S. House. The judge dismissed the procedural objections to the lawsuit, and clears the way for a trial.
On July 20, a Tennessee state trial court ruled that the Democratic Party is allowed to block a candidate from its primary on the grounds that the party doesn’t believe the candidate is a bona fide Democxrat. Elizabeth Stephens wanted to run for U.S. House, 5th district, but the party had rejected her. She sued but did not win the lawsuit. See this story.
Tennessee does not have registration by party. The voter registration does not ask about party membership.
The Connecticut Independent Party in 2022 only polled .98% for Governor, so it is no longer ballot-qualified for Governor. In Connecticut, a party is only ballot-qualified for offices for which it polled at least 1% in the last election. According to this story, the Republican nominee for Governor, Ryan Fazio, is circulating a petition for himself as the Independent Party nominee. However, even if that petition gets enough valid signatures, Fazio won’t be on the ballot as the Independent Party unless the party decides to nominate him.
In 2022, the Independent Party polled over 1% for Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Controller, but not Governor. It ran Robert Hotaling for Governor in 2022. He was not the nominee of any other party. Connecticut allows fusion.
Congressmembe Morgan Griffith (R-Virginia) has introduced HB 9724, to end birthright citizenship for persons born in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, or Guam. Here is the text. It would only apply to persons born January 1, 2027 or later.
On July 16, a Kansas state trial court temporarily enjoined a 2025 law that eliminates the 3-day period for postal ballots to arrive in election administration offices. See this story.
