The Independence Party, a party that is forming in Illinois, hopes to get on the 2026 ballot for statewide office. Its gubernatorial nominee is Gary T. Pierce. The party chair is Richard Whitney, who was the Green Party gubernatorial nominee in 2006. Here is the party’s website.
Chances are it is the only third party that will be petitioning in Illinois this year, unless the ballot access laws are eased. The petitioning window opens in February.
On January 29, California filed this brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in Tangipa v Newsom, 25A839. This is the lawsuit over California’s redistricting.
West Virginia Delegate Jimmy Willis (R-Brooke) has introduced HB 4080. It would require that cities and towns must use partisan elections to choose their own officers. Currently, as in most states, each city or town decides for itself whether to have partisan or non-partisan elections.
On January 28, the Maryland House Rules& Executive Nominations Committee passed HB 488, the bill to redraw the boundaries of U.S. house districts. On January 29, the bill passed the House on second reading.
Former California State Senator Steve Peace, who played a big role in causing California to switch to a top-two system in June 2010, has this article. He writes, “It’s time for more choice in California. Nonpartisan top-four (or five) primaries that allow voters to rank more candidates in the general election are the next great nonpartisan reform.”
Peace has been in favor of altering top-two for many years. In August 19, 2015, at a public forum organized by the Independent Voters Network and California Forward, he said he favors a top-three system.
