Carolina Journal‘s David Bass was prescient. Four weeks ago, this story suggested that the lawsuits filed by civil-rights and Democratic Party advocacy groups challenging the new legislative districts could delay the 2012 primary, scheduled for May.
Gary Robertson of The Associated Press now reports that David’s warning might come true. The state will ask the courts NOT to expedite the lawsuits. The plaintiffs want an early resolution (say, by February) so that the filing period for candidates can open on time Feb. 13. Laywers for the Republican General Assembly, represented by Attorney General Roy Cooper (a Democrat), want at least four months to interview witnesses and deal with their issues.
As David pointed out, the GOP presidential primary will take place on schedule in May. But — depending on the length of the trials and appeals — the primaries for state and local offices may be delayed, perhaps until August or September.
If so, as State Board of Elections Deputy Director Johnnie McLean told David, taxpayers would be on the hook for between $5 million and $7 million to cover the costs of a second primary.
Also, national Democrats could hold their September presidential nominating convention in Charlotte before the races to pick nominees for a host of legislative and congressional races are settled. And what if Gov. Bev Perdue’s legal troubles continue, and she faces a challenger from her own party? The host governor for the convention may not know if she’ll be her party’s nominee.
Fasten your seatbelts, folks. 2012 promises to be a wild political year.
