Competition resulting from the top-two primary doesn’t necessarily mean Mike Honda, endorsed by a long list of Democratic superstars, will lose his seat. What it does mean, however, is that he will have to appeal to a broader base in order to keep it.
Yesterday, the California State Senate unanimously concurred in minor Assembly Amendments to SB 140 by Senator Mark Leno, thus sending the bill to Governor Brown for his expected signature. The bi-partisan votes on SB 140 is the first but not the last beneficial effect of the Open Primary and Competitive redistricting.
Many people hear the phrase ‘open primary’ and assume that this is the most transparent and fair type of primary system. But, “open” primaries are still partisan elections in which nominees from each party are selected.
Last year’s partisan primaries cost taxpayers around $400 million, public money went directly to private organizations to conduct these elections.
Charles Munger, often associated with Republican causes, is defending California’s non-partisan open primary against political party interests.
The race for California’s 50th Assembly District is still too close to call, but the underdog candidate, Mayor Richard Bloom, is holding on to an 800 vote lead against incumbent Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, a liberal Democrat backed by the Democratic party.
Swalwell, 50 years the senior of his opponent, had great success in resonating with constituents and appealing to voters across party lines.
An anonymously funded 8 1/4 x 13.5 inch piece opposing Prop 121 was sent this week to Arizona voters. It features a large, sadistic photo of a wide-eyed woman with duct tape covering her mouth, appearing to tie a women’s fear of being silenced or abducted to the actions of Open Elections supporters.
Americans For Responsible Leadership, headed by conservative Arizona Republican businessman Robert Graham, is the leading source of funds fighting Arizona’s Proposition 121, the groundbreaking nonpartisan primary reforms modeled after California and Washington State.
With early balloting beginning on 11 October, a new survey suggests that support for the Top-Two Open Primary in Arizona (Proposition 121) seems to be picking up.
