As a result of Rodney Farthing winning 2.39% in the Treasurer’s race, the Constitution Party will have automatic ballot access in 2010.
But the Libertarian Party did not poll 2% in any statewide race (maybe they should have run someone for Attorney General). So if the Libertarian Party does not poll 2% in 2010 for Senate or Auditor, they will lose access and have to do a petition drive for 2012. They’ve had automatic access since topping the threshold in 1992.
In other words, the Constitution and Libertarian Parties will have primaries in 2010, and they’ll compete once again for the “shaking your fists at a cloud and yelling about the Government” vote.
The Reform Party got automatic access after 1996 (Perot), they missed 2% in 1998, and missed it again in 2000, tossing them off the ballot.
The Green Party missed automatic access after 2000 (Nader). Green Party supporters got the Progressive Party on the ballot in 2006, and missed 2% yet again.
The Libertarian Party topped 2% quite often. But the dud that was the Barr campaign and the Constitution Party complicated things.
The Constitution Party won automatic access as the US Taxpayers Party by topping 2% in the 1996 Treasurer’s race. Then they missed 2% in 1998, changed their name, and missed 2% in 2000. They got on the ballot in 2004, missed 2%, and just got back on in 2008. Their showing will enable them to be on the ballot in 2012 too.
Also, Koster v. Gibbons was the first statewide with just two candidates on the ballot since Carnahan v. Webster.