Socialist Workers Party Leroy Watson Louise Pittell and Dean Peoples v. Secretary of State of the State of Washington, Ralph Munro

JAMES R. BROWNING, Chief Judge:

Plaintiffs filed suit challenging the constitutionality of Wash.Rev.Code section 29.-18.110 (West Supp.1985) on the ground that it effectively barred minor parties from participating in general elections for state wide office and thus deprived these parties, their members, and the voters of Washington of rights protected by the first and fourteenth amendments. Both parties filed motions for summary judgment. The district court gave judgment for defendants. Plaintiffs appealed.

I

Prior to 1977, minor political parties did not participate in Washington’s primary…