The American Independent Party, which is on the ballot in California but no other state, will let independent voters vote in its presidential primary in 2016. California law lets each qualified party decide whether or not to invite independents to vote in its presidential primary. The AIP also let independents vote in its presidential primary in 2004 and 2008, but did not do so in 2012.
The AIP will soon finalize the list of presidential primary candidates who will appear on the ballot. Already the party has decided to list Donald Trump and J. R. Myers. Myers is seeking the presidential nomination of the Constitution Party. California presidential primaries are on June 7.
As far as is known, no presidential candidate has ever appeared on the ballot of more than a single party’s presidential primary simultaneously. However, there is no law against it. If the AIP submits the name of Donald Trump to the California Secretary of State, and if Trump does not decline, he would then appear on the presidential primary ballot of both the Republican Party and the AIP.
In 2012, Roseanne Barr’s name was on the Green Party’s presidential primary, but not the Peace & Freedom Party’s primary ballot. However, in August, the Peace & Freedom Party nominated Barr and so her name appeared on the November ballot as the PFP nominee. In 2008, Alan Keyes’ name appeared on the Republican presidential primary ballot, and in November he was listed as the American Independent Party presidential nominee in California. Also in 2008, Ralph Nader’s name appeared on the Green Party presidential primary ballot (which he won), and in November he was listed as the Peace & Freedom nominee.
In California’s 1996 presidential primaries, Ralph Nader was on the Green Party ballot, and he also filed as a write-in in the Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, and Peace & Freedom primaries. He received 6,599 votes in the Democratic primary, 1,441 in the Republican primary, 187 in the Peace & Freedom primary, and 115 in the Libertarian primary. His Green primary total was 22,649.
Donald Trump’s name appeared on the California Reform Party presidential primary in 2000. He won that primary with 15,311 votes, defeating George D. Weber (9,390), Robert Bowman (4,879) and John B. Anderson (3,158). The Reform Party national convention that year nominated Pat Buchanan.
No blanket primary in presidential.
Richard, I thought California had a blanket primary or is this only true for election where top two rules and thus not true for presidential primaries?
California voters can switch parties, or register for the first time, two weeks before any election.
Good point. Can voters register Republican same-day in CA, though? If not, how early is the deadline?
The Democratic Party of California will let independent voters vote in its presidential primary, but the Republican Party won’t do that (although they did in 2004). So independent voters who want to vote for Trump in a presidential primary will only be able to do it by choosing an AIP ballot. I tend to think Trump will allow his name to remain on the AIP ballot.
I’d expect Trump to remove his name from the AIP primary, at least if he’s still running in the CA-GOP primary. His campaign wouldn’t votes being cast for him in the AIP primary instead of the GOP one they care about.
Interesting election year. I sense a sea change coming in 2016. Is this the year for a real change? Will a new major party emerge?
“American Independent Party Opens its Primary to Independent Voters”
Imagine that! Next thing….we will hear is that the Republican and Democratic
Partys will open their Primaries to Republican and Democrat Voters!
Wonders never cease!