Virginia voters elected a new House of Delegates on November 2, 2021. The new partisan lineup is 52 Republicans, 48 Democrats. The old chamber had a Democratic majority.
This story reveals that Republicans won the two closest races. There will be recounts in those two districts.
This news story reveals that Mark Brewer is one of the leaders for the Michigan initiative for the National Popular Vote Compact. Brewer was chair of the state Democratic Party for 18 years, is on the Democratic National Committee, and is a past chair of the Association of state Democratic chairs. This support virtually guarantees that the initiative will obtain enough signatures to get on the ballot. Brewer is experienced in statewide initiative and referendum qualification in Michigan.
On November 15, two Alaska politicians filed an amicus curiae brief in Kohlhaas v State, S-18210. The amicus is opposed to the top-four system and in support of the challenge to that system. The individuals who filed the amicus are Mead Treadwell (who was Alaska’s Lieutenant Governor 2010-2014), and Dick Randolph. Randolph was a Libertarian state legislator 1978-1982, and the Libertarian Party nominee for Governor in 1982.
Here is the amicus.
On November 15, the Alaskan Independence Party filed its opening brief in the Alaska Supreme Court, in the challenge to the top-four system passed by the voters in November 2020. Kohlhaas v State, S-18210.
The Green Party of California, and the Peace & Freedom Party, have agreed to a unified 2022 campaign for statewide offices. This means that the parties will support each other’s endorsed statewide candidates. The Peace & Freedom Party has endorsed Greens for three statewide offices, and the Green Party has endorsed PFP candidates for three other statewide offices.
The Green candidates are Gary Blenner for Secretary of State, Dan Kapelovitz for Attorney General, and Laura Wells for Controller.
The PFP candidates are John Parker for U.S. Senate, Meghann Adams for Treasurer, and Nathalie Hrizi for Insurance Commissioner.
Further meetings of the two parties will probably make endorsements for Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
It is extremely unlikely that any of these candidates will qualify for the November ballot, due to the top-two system.
The Green Party acted in its October 26 meeting, and PFP acted at its November 14-15 meeting. These endorsements have no effect on the appearance of the June 2022 primary ballot, but this cooperation enhances the chances that each party will poll at least 2% of the vote in the June primary, and thereby retain their ballot status (although each party now has enough registrations to retain qualified status, regardless of the vote totals). Of course, there is nothing stopping other members of those two parties from also running for the various statewide offices, but such other individuals would not have the endorsement of either party. Thanks to Kevin Akin for this news.
