Maine Democratic Congressional Nominee Insists on Inclusive Debate in U.S. House Race, Second District

Posted on by October 23, 2014
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WMTW in Maine wanted to host a debate between the Democratic and Republican nominees for U.S. House in Maine’s Second District. However, Democratic nominee Emily Cain refused to participate unless the only other candidate whose name is on the ballot, an independent, was invited. As a result the WMTW debate is cancelled.

However, the three candidates will debate each other on October 23, and that inclusive debate will be broadcast on two other stations. See this story. The Maine 2nd district is an open seat, because congressman Michael Michaud is not running for re-election; instead he is the Democratic nominee for Governor. Thanks to Thomas MacMillan for the link.

South Carolina Republican Legislator, Seeking Re-Election, Suddenly Resigns and Withdraws, But Name Will Remain on Ballot

Posted on by October 23, 2014
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On October 23, South Carolina House Speaker Bobby Harrell resigned from the legislature and said he will not run again. However, he won the Republican primary in June, and his name will remain on the ballot, according to this story.

Also on the ballot are Democrat Mary Tinkler and Green Party nominee Sue Edward. Harrell has been in the legislature since 1992, and until today, was the Speaker of the House. His district, the 114th, is in Charleston. Thanks to IndependentPoliticalReport for this news.

California Gubernatorial Poll: 4% of Respondents Volunteer to Poll-taker that they Will Leave Cast a Blank Ballot for Governor

Posted on by October 23, 2014
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On October 23, Public Policy Institute of California released a poll for many California races. See the poll here. Scroll down to page seven for the gubernatorial results. Only two candidates are on the ballot, incumbent Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican Neel Kashkari. The results: Brown 52%; Kashkari 36%; will not vote for Governor 4%; undecided 8%.

The pollster did not suggest any option to respondents about not voting; the 4% who said they would leave the ballot blank volunteered that information. California is the only state this year in which voters must either vote for a Democrat or a Republican for the top office on the ballot, or they can’t vote at all. California is one of only six states with only two candidates on the ballot for the top office. Of those six, California is the only one that doesn’t permit write-ins in the general election for partisan office.

Wisconsin State Legislator Leaves Democratic Party, Says he is an Independent

Posted on by October 23, 2014
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Wisconsin state legislator Brett Hulsey, elected as a Democrat in 2010 and re-elected in 2012, is not running for re-election. He says he has left the Democratic Party and is now an independent. He had been elected from Dane County (the county that contains Madison).

He is running as a write-in candidate for Governor. See this story. Also, see this story. He feels that the Democratic nominee for Governor is not all that different from the state’s Republican governor, who is running for re-election.