On October 6, Durham, North Carolina, held the first round in non-partisan city council elections. In the 2nd ward, Matt Drew, a registered Libertarian, placed second in a five-person race, with 12.5% of the vote. That qualified him for a spot on the November 3, 2009 run-off election. However, because the incumbent placed first with 59.5% of the vote, Drew is still a definite underdog. See this story in the October 23 Herald Sun. Thanks to Eric Dondero for this news.
Obviously it is a good thing that a non-corporate candidate got into the second round, but I can’t help but wonder why a run-off is needed when one candidate got a majority in the first round. I assume that’s “how things work” in the Durham races, but I think it’s unusual, no?
You’re welcome.
BTW, I’ll be running some news tomorrow on yet another similar race with a Libertarian Party candidate.
It’s a no brainer for Republicans to endorse Libertarians in such races.
#1 It is a Top 2 election.
North Carolina gives cities a number of different ways to hold their elections.
Some use a general election, and then have a runoff if the leader does not have a majority.
Others have a primary, where the Top 2 advance to the general election. The purpose of the primary is to specifically determine two candidates. If two or fewer candidates file for the primary, then it is skipped and there is only a general election, since the purpose of the primary is to determine two candidates for the general election.
The two systems look much the same if there are three or more candidates, and no candidate receives a majority; but in one case the elections are styled as a general election and runoff; while in the other it is a primary election and general election.
The Top 2 system is used for elections of the Nebraska legislature, where it is not unknown for a candidate with a majority in the primary to be defeated in the general election. Cities in Minnesota use the system as well.
There are also variations for multiple-seat elections. For example if there were 3 at-large seats, the Top 6 would qualify for the general election. So you might have 7 candidates running with one eliminated in the primary; or 5 or 6 running, and the primary being skipped.