Category Archives: political parties

“10 Months Later, Iowa Democrats Blame National Party for Caucus Meltdown”

December 12, 2020, 3:39 pmpolitical partiesRick Hasen

NYT reports. With Iowa’s closely watched presidential caucuses more endangered than ever after a disastrous showing in February that delayed results for days, the Iowa Democratic Party on Saturday sought to shift blame for the meltdown onto the Democratic National… Continue reading

“Local Political Parties as Networks: A Guide to Self-Assessment”

May 28, 2020, 7:00 ampolitical partiesRick Hasen

New white paper from SSN working group: The 2020 election season offers extraordinary opportunities for local parties to welcome new members, grow their ranks, and serve as networks of civic connection. This self-assessment document provides a set of diagnostic questions… Continue reading

Second Circuit Unanimously Affirms District Court Order Requiring New York to Conduct a Presidential Primary

May 19, 2020, 7:29 ampolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

The order is here. An opinion to follow is promised. “After reviewing the record, we affirm the order granting the application for preliminary injunction for substantially the reasons given by the District Court in its thorough May 5, 2020… Continue reading

“Democrats move to allow remote voting or a virtual summer convention”

May 11, 2020, 8:51 pmpolitical partiesRick Hasen

WaPo: The Democratic Party plans to adopt new rules Tuesday to narrow the scope of its presidential nominating convention, potentially paving the way for either a limited in-person gathering or a virtual event this August.The proposed changes, which are… Continue reading

“Colorado GOP Chair Ken Buck pressured local official to submit incorrect election results; Fellow Republican says congressman tried to bully him into committing a crime”

May 6, 2020, 8:41 pmchicanery, political partiesRick Hasen

Quite a story in the Denver Post.

“New York Must Hold Democratic Presidential Primary, Judge Rules”

May 5, 2020, 9:01 pmpolitical partiesRick Hasen

NYT: A federal judge on Tuesday ordered elections officials in New York State to hold its Democratic primary election in June and reinstate all qualifying candidates on the ballot. The ruling came after the presidential primary was canceled late last … Continue reading

“New York Cancels Primary Election, Angering Sanders Supporters”

April 28, 2020, 7:42 ampolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

NPR: New York Democrats will not be casting primary votes for a presidential candidate this year.State election officials effectively canceled the presidential primary by removing every Democrat except the presumptive nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, from the primary ballot.According… Continue reading

“DNC postpones presidential convention until August 17”

April 2, 2020, 9:10 ampolitical partiesRick Hasen

Politico: The Democratic National Committee is postponing the party’s presidential convention in Milwaukee to August 17, the week before the Republican Party’s convention, a Democratic official briefed on the decision said. The delay from July 13 came after likely… Continue reading

“Democratic Convention Planners Look at Contingency Options”

March 23, 2020, 4:35 pmpolitical partiesRick Hasen

NYT: Planners for the Democratic National Convention are looking at “contingency options” in case the mid-July gathering in Milwaukee can’t take place because of the coronavirus, officials said on Monday for the first time.“As we navigate the unprecedented challenge of… Continue reading

“How the Trump Campaign Took Over the GOP”

March 9, 2020, 12:35 pmpolitical partiesRick Hasen

NYT: President Trump’s campaign manager and a circle of allies have seized control of the Republican Party’s voter data and fund-raising apparatus, using a network of private businesses whose operations and ownership are cloaked in secrecy, largely exempt from… Continue reading

“Primary Day: Why Presidential Nominees Should Be Chosen on a Single Day”

March 3, 2020, 11:57 ampolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

Eugene Mazo has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Why do we have an Election Day but not a Primary Day? No aspect of the presidential nomination process causes as much controversy as the primary calendar. The… Continue reading

“After the meltdown at the Iowa caucuses, Democrats fear a repeat in Nevada”

February 9, 2020, 8:38 pmelection administration, political parties, primariesRick Hasen

WaPo reports.

“Winnowing and Endorsing: Separating the Two Distinct Functions of Party Primaries”

February 1, 2020, 10:00 ampolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

Ned Foley has posted this timely draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: This chapter of an edited volume on presidential primaries focuses on the relationship of the primaries to the general election. It does not suffice that the rules… Continue reading