WFP Weakened by Higher Threshold, Short on Union Support to Survive

Changes approved by the state Public Financing Commission establishing new limits on campaign contributions for statewide offices and requiring political parties to get at least 130,000 votes in such races—compared to the current threshold of 50,000—or lose their ballot line will take effect shortly before Christmas unless legislative leaders abruptly convene a Special Session to reconsider those changes.

The panel’s actions Nov. 25 created a furor among smaller state parties and good-government groups even though it backed away from approving the abolition of fusion voting, which would have ended the practice under which Democratic and Republican nominees can run on multiple ballot lines, which can benefit both the candidates and the smaller parties.