Geary v. Renne

TROTT, Circuit Judge:

On June 3, 1986, the people of California amended their constitution to add the following provision as article II, § 6(b):

No political party or party central committee may endorse, support or oppose a candidate for nonpartisan office.1

In this appeal, we are asked to decide (1) whether this provision is compatible with First Amendment rights of free speech and association, and (2) whether it deprives the individuals and political entities to which it applies of equal protection of the laws as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. We hold on both counts that the provision…