On April 19, the Washington legislature passed SB 5119, which eliminates the 2012 presidential primary, and which also apparently eliminates public elections for Washington state precinct committee officers, which is a political party office. Thanks to Josh Putnam of Frontloading HQ for this news.
That’s an amazing act of courage. Its a major rejection of the national two-party system: DNC/RNC. Does this require Governor Gregoire’s signature to become law? Will he sign it? It will save the state millions in wasted “party” money. Washington was already a non-entity in presidential politics, this would make that official. I wonder if it will have any weakening effect on the state Dems/Repubs, and corresponding boost to third parties.
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Top-two has killed minor parties in Washington state, and this presidential primary change won’t affect them. Washington state was one of only five states in November 2010 with a Dem-Rep monopoly for all statewide elections. The others were Alabama, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and New Mexico.
All statewide offices should be NON-partisan — using App.V.
P.R. for all legislative bodies.
There is a bill, HB 1860, that would have moved the PCO election to the presidential primary, and would also have made the presidential primary contingent on the agreement of both major parties. If there was no presidential primary then the parties would choose their PCO by whatever way they wanted to.
It was presumed that the Democrats would not want a primary, and this would trigger the PCO being elected by however the parties wanted to.
HB 1860 passed the House, but has been stuck in a senate committee for about a month.
So I think Washington may have no legal way to elect PCO, and no way to fill vacancies.
good morning from camp luna linda —
once gov gregoire gave me her ear —
this was before Pierce Co dropped IRV —
“will WA be the first IRV state?”
“maybe” —
GRATEFULLY EVERYTHING CHANGES —
sometimes slowly —
sometimes quickly —
moves like this trigger the quick? — MMM