Green Party Member Does Well in First Round in California Special Legislative Election

Posted on by November 20, 2009
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On November 17, California held the first round in an election to fill the vacant 72nd Assembly seat. The results: Chris Norby, Republican, 37.23%; John MacMurray, Democratic, 27.05%; Linda Ackerman, Republican, 19.67%; Richard Faher, Republican, 13.22%; Jane Rands, Green, 2.83%.

Although the Green Party member’s showing, 2.83%, is not particularly good for a general election, it is very good for the first round in any blanket primary. California uses blanket primary rules for all its partisan special elections, which means that the final round includes the top vote-getter from each party. Normally, in the first round, minor parties in this type of election do very badly. That is because the great majority of voters are more interested in helping determine which major party member will advance to the run-off.

For example, in the September 2009 special election for U.S. House in California’s 10th district, the Green Party member got .51%; the American Independent Party member got .29%; the Peace & Freedom Party member got .25%. But, in the final round in that U.S. House election, the Green got 1.83%; Peace & Freedom got 1.34%; and American Independent got 1.15%. In other words, the minor party vote typically increases four-fold between the first round and the run-off. Thus, it seems somewhat likely that in the January 2010 run-off in the 72nd Assembly district, the Green Party candidate, Jane Rands, will get 10% or more.

Ron Paul-Alan Grayson Bill to Audit the Federal Reserve Makes Headway

Posted on by November 19, 2009
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This news is not directly related to election law, but it is being posted because it concerns Ron Paul, who has been the leading champion in Congress for ballot access reform for the last ten years. On November 19, the contents of Ron Paul’s HR 1207 were amended into the Financial Regulatory Reform bill of the House Committee on Financial Services, HR 3996. The Paul-Grayson amendment provides that the GAO should audit the Federal Reserve. Paul’s co-author for this bill, Congressman Alan Grayson (D-Florida), is vice-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Paul has been working for an audit of the Federal Reserve for approximately twenty years. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news. See this story.

Also, see this November 20 commentary from the Financial Times.

California Poll Shows Minor Parties Hold Balance of Power in 2010 Gubernatorial Race

Posted on by November 19, 2009
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A Rasmussen Poll released on November 19 shows that if the election for Governor of California were being held now, no candidate has a majority, assuming the Democratic nominee is Jerry Brown and that the Republican nominee is Meg Whitman. The results are: Brown 41%, Whitman 41%, other 3%, undecided 14%. See here for more details.

California Court Keeps Public Funding Measure on June 2010 Ballot

Posted on by November 19, 2009
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On November 19, a Sacramento Superior Court ruled that a public funding measure that is set to be on the June 2010 ballot should remain on that ballot. To read the ruling, see here and then click on “Institute of Governmental Advocates v Bowen.” The ruling says that it is more appropriate to hear the challenge to the measure after the voters vote on it, assuming that it does indeed pass. The ruling is only tentative, and the plaintiff has arranged that there will be oral argument at 9 a.m. on November 20 in this case.