The Northern Mariana Islands, a commonwealth of the United States, held its gubernatorial election on November 7, 2009. With two precincts still uncounted, the results are: Fitial Benigno (Covenant Party) 4,063 votes; Heinz Hofschneider (Republican Party) 4,034 votes; Juan Guerrero (independent) 2,166 votes; Ramon DeLeon Guerrero (independent), 1,005 votes.

For the first time, the Northern Mariana Islands election law provides for a run-off if no one gets 50%. Since no one has even as much as 40% in this first round, there will be a run-off. The law says the run-off must be held within 2 weeks after the results of the first round are certified. Results must be certified within 10 days of an election, so the run-off will probably be on November 28. For the election returns, see www.votecnmi.gov.mp.

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On November 6, the Tea Party qualified as a party for the Florida ballot. It should not be confused with the Boston Tea Party, which was already a ballot-qualified party in Florida. See this story.

It is very easy for a group to qualify itself in Florida. Florida now has 32 qualified parties. The vast majority of them have never run a candidate for anything, because (except for president) the filing fees for candidates are so high.

On November 6, 2009, Ralph Nader again asked the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to rehear the 2004 case over whether it was proper and constitutional for that Court to order him to pay approximately $80,000 to the people who challenged his 2004 petition. In re Nomination Paper of Nader, 94 MAP 2008. Here is the succinct 5-page brief, which makes two points that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has never addressed: (1) the people who challenged Nader’s petition did so in a criminal conspiracy, and some of them have already pleaded guilty; (2) the U.S. Supreme Court, and lower courts, have established over the last 44 years that states cannot charge candidates for the costs of administering elections, except for the limited purpose of keeping ballots uncrowded.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has one new member, elected earlier this week, although she hasn’t taken the oath of office yet.

With a House health care vote looming, President Obama discusses the Fort Hood tragedy in his weekly address.

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