New Mexico Attorney General Files Amicus Curiae Brief in Tenth Circuit on the Side of Ballot Access for the Forward Party

Richard Winger — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 23:37:43 +0000

On September 10, the Attorney General of New Mexico, Raul Torrez, a Democrat, filed an amicus curiae in the Tenth Circuit in New Mexico Forward Party v Toulouse Oliver, 26-2145. The surprise is that he filed it on the side of the Forward Party, and argues that New Mexico’s ballot access laws for new and minor parties are so difficult that they are unconstitutional. Here is his brief.

I have been following constitutional ballot access cases for sixty years and I don’t believe that the Attorney General of any state has ever taken that position in any previous constitutional ballot access case. There have been many instances when a state consented that one of its ballot access laws was unconstitutional, but this is a contested case.

Missouri Supreme Court Says Secretary of State Was in Contempt of Court But No Longer Is

Richard Winger — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 20:45:54 +0000

On September 10, the Missouri Supreme Court said that Secretary of State Denny Hoskins had been in contempt of court last week, but that he is no longer in contempt, so there is no punishment. Early, some Missouri Republican state … Continue reading →

West Virginia Has Most Minor Party Legislative Candidates In Any Year Since 1937

Richard Winger — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 17:44:02 +0000

This year, West Virginia has 19 minor party candidates for the legislature on the ballot. That is the most since at least 1936, and possibly earlier. The number of minor party legislative nominees in 1936 is unknown. The only minor parties on the ballot in 1936 were Socialist and Prohibition. The West Virginia ballot access laws became extremely difficult in 1937, and again in 1941. They were eased in 2009, after years of struggle.

This year there are nine Constitution Party legislative nominees, five Libertarians, and five Greens. The West Virginia Green Party has the name “Mountain Party.”

The previous highest number of legislative minor party nominees was in 1998, when there were ten Libertarians.

Kansas Supreme Court Won’t Hear No Labels Party Ballot Access Case

Richard Winger — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 16:56:45 +0000

On September 9, the Kansas Supreme Court declined to hear the case on whether the Secretary of State was correct to remove the No Labels Party from the ballot. The Court said the lower court should hear the case first. … Continue reading →

Colorado Democratic Legislative Nominee Kept Off Ballot Due to Party’s Failure to Submit Timely Paperwork

Richard Winger — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 16:03:28 +0000

The Democratic nominee for Colorado State House of Representatives, 58th district, Alec Lindman, is not on the ballot because the local Democratic Party failed to file paperwork. See this story. As a result, the incumbent Republican is the only name … Continue reading →

Maryland State Supreme Court Agrees with Lower Court that Independent Candidate for County Office Lacked Enough Valid Signatures

Richard Winger — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:40:13 +0000

On September 9, the Maryland State Supreme Court agreed with a lower court, that Moisette Sweat did not have enough valid signatures. She had been trying to get on the ballot as an independent candidate for Prince George’s County Executive. Here is the ruling. Sweat v Prince George’s County Board of Elections, 2006-25.

In 2022 the Maryland State Supreme Court had changed its name. Formerly it was known as the State Court of Appeals.

U.S. Supreme Court Stays the Order of the U.S. District Court in Missouri, Thus Indirectly Backing the State Supreme Court

Richard Winger — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:42:24 +0000

On September 10, the U.S. District Court stayed the U.S. District Court order in the Missouri U.S. House redistricting case. Thus the order of the Missouri Supreme Court goes into effect, and the 2022 maps are to be used, even … Continue reading →

Texas Democrats Have a Nominee in Every Legislative District for the First Time Since 1976

Richard Winger — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 01:20:51 +0000

Texas Democrats have a nominee for every state legislative seat this year. This is the first time the party has done that since the 1976 election.

By contrast, in 2024, the Texas Democratic Party didn’t have nominees in 23 races.

Opponents of Missouri U.S. House District 2025 Map Ask U.S. Supreme Court to Enter Dispute

Richard Winger — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 22:40:42 +0000

On September 9, Missouri opponents of the 2025 U.S. House district map asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the decision of the U.S. District Court that ordered the state to use the 2025 maps. People Not politicians v Onder, 26A326. See the filing here.

New Mexico Forward Party Asks Tenth Circuit to Put its Statewide Nominees on Ballot

Richard Winger — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 21:58:01 +0000

On September 8, the New Mexico Forward Party asked the Tenth Circuit to put its two statewide nominees on the ballot. See here. On September 9, the Tenth Circuit asked the state to respond by Friday, September 11. … Continue reading →