Green Party Congressional candidate gets Democrat endorsement

Green Party candidate for New York's 11th Congressional District, James Lane, has earned the Southern Brooklyn Democrats endorsement.

The Southern Brooklyn Democrats wrote on their Facebook Page, "Mr. Lane isn't a career politician; he's a member of our community who deeply cares about the interests of the people and representing us. It's long overdue that this district was represented by someone who is 'by the people, for the people."

Rachel Shapiro writes at silive.com Southern Brooklyn Democrats club President Jennifer Thorpe-Moscon said, "We don't blindly endorse whatever candidate the Democratic Party puts forth."

The club has a brief history of backing third-party candidates, as it endorsed Green Party candidate for governor, Howie Hawkins, in 2014 instead of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Lane is running in a May 5 special election for Congress.

SOURCE:

http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/04/lane_gets_brooklyn_dems_club_e.html

Bernie Sanders confirms he's running for President

Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders confirmed he will join the race for President Thursday in an interview with the Associated Press.  He told the Associated Press he's running as a Democrat.

Sanders was quoted saying, "I've run outside of the two-party system, defeating Democrats and Republicans, taking on big-money candidates and, you know, I think the message that has resonated in Vermont is a message that can resonate all over this country."

Sanders said he will make money and politics a central theme of his campaign, including a call for a constitutional amendment to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision.

The Associated Press speculates Senator Sanders is likely to attract some interest from voters who have unsuccessfully sought to draft Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren to join the race.

SOURCE:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/vermont-sen-bernie-sanders-i-am-running-for-president/ar-BBiUvNQ?ocid=ansnewsap11

Green Party: Hillary Clinton, thank you for running!

The Green Party is saying thank you to Hillary Clinton for running for President.  An e-mail from the party said since Clinton's announcement, "We've been getting a huge influx of new supporters. The number of tweets shot up by 300%--and it's holding! We're getting a similar uptick in people joining the party".

The e-mail says people are joining because, "people are fed up... afraid... and sick and tired of having 90's-style realpolitik shoved down their throats."

The e-mail says the Greens want to "max out" on candidates for the up-coming election cycle and continue with our "aggressive ballot access work".

Report: Split at the top of Massachusetts' United Independent Party

A report from the Massachusetts State House News Service says two running mates whose campaign produced a new political party, the United Independent Party, have parted ways.

Andy Metzger reports Evan Falchuk, who garnered 3.3% of the November 2014 vote for governor, is no longer working with his running mate Angus Jennings.

Jennings suggested in the report that party has become more about Falchuk than the cause.

Falchuk said the party has been holding regular organizing meetings, has registered 2,300 members, and will have candidates for local office.

SOURCE:http://wwlp.com/2015/04/23/rift-emerges-between-independent-party-running-mates/

Libertarian blog comes out against "Top Two" voting

A Libertarian Party blog post came out against a "Top-Two" primary ballot initiative in Florida.

The plan would move the top two vote-getters in what is effectively an open primary to the general election.  No matter what party the top two candidates belong to, they will advance to the general election and would be the only two candidates on the General Election ballot.

The blog post says the practice, "severely damages the chances for alternative parties and independents to participate in the general election, except where seats are uncontested."

Currently, California and Washington have "Top Two" elections. 

Source:http://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/florida-ballot-initiative-for-two-only-general-elections-begins-to-circulate

Mississippi Libertarian to run for Lt. Governor

The Mississippi Libertarian Party will have one statewide candidate in the 2015 Mississippi General Election.  Ron Williams will be running for Lieutenant Governor.

The party will have three candidates running for the legislature, two candidates for Senate and one candidate for House.  The Mississippi Libertarians will also have five local level candidates.

In a news release state party chair Mario Barnes said, "We are running 8 candidates this year for various positions... This is more than double our previous high mark.  It is commensurate with the growth the MSLP is seeing in membership, participation and influence." 

Source:http://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/mississippi-lp-running-eight-candidates-this-november

Pot is banned... so let's ban alcohol!

State Representative Chris Pearson of the Vermont Progressive Party is floating a bill to ban alcohol.  He told Erin Mansfield in the Bennington Banner the move is symbolic to protest "stalled efforts" to legalize marijuana.
Penalties would be up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.  Pearson told Mansfield, "Prohibiting the sale and possession of alcohol is a laughable... [use the] same logic we use to consider the continued prohibition of marijuana."

Source:
http://www.benningtonbanner.com/localnews/ci_27926129/vermont-lawmakers-propose-ban-alcohol-make-pot-point