On April 10, the California Poll released a poll for the Secretary of State’s race. The poll was underway before State Senator Leland Yee, a Democratic candidate for Secretary of State, had been arrested. After the arrest, the poll stopped including Yee in the poll. The results without Yee are: Pete Peterson, Republican, 30%; Alex Padilla, Democrat, 17%; David Curtis, Green, 5%; Dan Schnur, independent, 4%; Derek Cressman, Democrat, 3%; Undecided, 41%.

When Yee is included, the results are: Peterson 27%, Padilla 10%, Yee 8%, Curtis 4%, Schnur 4%, Cressman 2%, other 1%, undecided 44%. Here is a link to the poll. Schnur, the independent candidate, is on the ballot as “no party preference” because California’s Proposition 14 and its implementing legislation eliminated the ability of independent candidates to have “independent” as a ballot label.

Curtis has campaigned as an opponent of the top-two system, whereas Schnur is a big supporter of the top-two system. Cressman is also an opponent of the top-two system, but he doesn’t campaign on that issue. The other candidates have not expressed an opinion about the top-two system.

Yee has withdrawn, but his name remains on the ballot, because California (unlike virtually all other states) does not permit candidates to withdraw from the ballot. Thanks to Michael for the link.

See this very lengthy report in Businessweek on Marianne Williamson, independent candidate for U.S. House in California’s 33rd district.

Here is a newspaper story describing the oral argument on April 9 in the Iowa Supreme Court, in Chiodo v The Section 43.24 Panel. The issue is the meaning of the Iowa Constitutional provision that says persons convicted of “infamous crimes” can’t register to vote, or run for state or local office, unless the Governor has restored their rights. A decision is likely in the next five days.