‘It Smells Like a Rat’: The Nasty Feud That Could Flip Wisconsin

MADISON, Wisconsin — On an oppressively hot August day in downtown Madison, the signs of this famously liberal city’s progressive activism are everywhere. Buildings are draped in pride flags and Black Lives Matter signs are prominently displayed on storefronts. A musty bookstore advertises revolutionary titles and newspaper clippings of rallies against Donald Trump. A fancy restaurant features a graphic of a raised Black fist in its window, with chalk outside on the sidewalk reading “solidarity forever.” Continue reading

Democrats move to block third parties from the ballot

The heart of the Democrats’ campaign for president this year is their full-throated attack on Donald Trump as a dictatorial ultrarightist. The Washington Post headlined Catherine Rampell’s Sept. 24 column, “Don’t scoff at the Hitler comparisons. Trump’s rhetoric is that bad.” Democrats claim no less than “democracy is on the ballot” in 2024. Continue reading

Congressional Bill for Ranked Choice Voting Would Outlaw Top-Two Systems

A bill to require ranked choice voting for all congressional primary and general elections has been introduced in both houses of Congress. The U.S. Senate sponsor is Peter Welch (D-Vermont). The two chief sponsors in the House are Jaime Raskin (D-Maryland) and Don Beyer (D-Virginia). It would require ranked choice voting in both primaries and general elections, so that the current top-two systems in California and Washington would need to be revised. Furthermore, it says that if a state uses systems without party nominees, at least three candidates must be allowed to advance to the general election. Continue reading

Green Party offers alternatives in ACC race

A pair of Arizona Green Party candidates are running in the already crowded race for three seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission. Mike Cease and Nina Luxenberg ran as write-in candidates in the Green Party primary and will be on the general election ballot alongside three Democrats and three Republicans. Continue reading

Is Democracy on the ballot? Third-party suppression a problem

The Democratic Party often rightfully condemns Republicans for suppressing votes at the ballot box, but they are guilty of suppressing voters’ choices by filing frivolous lawsuits to prevent independent and third-party candidates from being on the ballot. “The single biggest threat that helps put Trump back in the White House is third-party candidates …” said Joe Trippi in an NBC News report. The Party accurately accuses Trump of being an existential threat to our “democracy,” but it is too. Continue reading

Indiana Green Party asks for Reconsideration in Seventh Circuit

On September 3, the Indiana Green Party asked for rehearing en banc in the Seventh Circuit, in the party’s ballot access case. Indiana Green Party v Morales, 23-2756. Both the U.S. District Court and the Seventh Circuit had upheld the 2% petition requirement even though the state had presented no evidence in support of the law, and even though the party had submitted a great deal of evidence. That evidence, which is uncontested, establishes that no statewide independent petition, or petition for an unqualified party nominee, can succeed without the expenditure of approximately $500,000. Continue reading

Party for Socialism and Liberation, Green Party discuss priorities for 2024 election

The Party for Socialism and Liberation, a self-described revolutionary socialist party, was formed in 2004. Gerald Green II says he joined PSL in 2022 after he became disillusioned with the Democratic Party. On Tuesday’s edition of “Closer Look,” Green told show host Rose Scott that PSL supports universal health care and seeks to build an anti-capitalist movement for working people. Continue reading

Legal fight over third-party ballot access reveals flaws in the two-party system

A Georgia judge’s rulings barring third parties from the presidential ballot reflect strategic efforts by both major parties to maintain control. A Georgia judge ruled that several independent and third-party candidates failed to qualify for the 2024 presidential ballot this week. The decisions were in response to lawsuits filed by the Georgia Democratic Party challenging the four candidacies, while Republicans threw legal support behind keeping one of them — a socialist — on the ballot.  Continue reading

Montana Dems sue to get Green Party Senate candidate off the ballot

The Montana Democratic Party sued the secretary of state and the state of Montana on Thursday to get the Green Party's Senate candidate removed from general election ballots.  The Democrats are asking a judge to permanently bar Republican Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen from certifying any Green Party candidate in the Senate election, including who was slated to be on the ballot, Darby resident Robert Barb. Continue reading

Wood County Green Party marks Dobbs Decision anniversary

The Wood County Green Party on Monday marked the second anniversary of the Dobbs Decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade. Green Party officials conducted a protest from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the corner of Main and Wooster streets. A discussion on the impact of the decision on American women took place Monday night in the Veteran's Building in City Park. Continue reading