The Chicago Tribune here editorializes against Illinois’ strict ballot access laws for independent candidates for U.S. House.
The paper had a somewhat similar editorial on March 9, 2026. It has also carried op-eds on the subject. Illinois has the 2nd most severe petition requirement for independent and minor party candidates for U.S. House. Only Georgia is worse.
Ilion, a village in Herkimer County, New York, held a mayoral election on June 16. The incumbent Mayor, John Stephens, was the Republican nominee and the only name on the ballot. However, he lost to a write-in candidate. See this story.
The new Texas ballot access case Collier v Nelson, w.d., 1:26cv-1574, has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pitman, an Obama appointee. This is the lawsuit that challenges the independent petition collection period of only 30 days, in races in which there had been a primary run-0ff.
On June 11, New Jersey State Senator Brian Stack, a Democrat, introduced SB 4445. It would move all primaries from the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June, to the second Tuesday after the first Monday in June. If enacted, it would automatically extend the petition deadline for non-presidential minor party and independent candidates by a week.
On June 15, Iowa state officials removed three Libertarians from the ballot. They include the party’s nominees for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and U.S. House in one district. See this story.
No one questioned the validity of the signatures. Approximately 8,000 had been gathered for the ticket of Governor and Lieutenant Governor. The candidates expect to sue to reverse the decision.
The party is on for one other U.S. House seat, and for U.S. Senate.
