By Richard Winger On August 12, James Tyson Parker filed his opening brief in his ballot access lawsuit, Parker v Duran, 15-2088. The issue is the New Mexico law that requires independent candidates to submit a petition of 3% of the last gubernatorial vote, whereas minor party nominees (for office other than President) only need a petition of 1% of the last gubernatorial vote. Parker collected enough signatures under the minor party standard, but because he was an independent candidate, that wasn’t good enough and he was kept off the ballot last year. He had been running for Public Education …read more