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Tracking the Candidates: Current Electoral College Rules Mean Most Americans Ignored
Tracking the Candidates: Current Electoral College Rules Mean Most Americans Ignored
In the weeks since the California primary, when Hillary Clinton joined Donald Trump in becoming her party’s presumptive nominee for president, FairVote has tracked both candidates’ campaign appearances. FairVote’s similar analysis in 2012 showed just how much the candidates focus on swing states that might tip the election with our current Electoral College rules. After the conventions in 2012, Barack Obama campaigned in a grand total of just eight states and Mitt Romney added only two more. The
01 Aug, 2016
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5 min read
In Writing Their Platforms, Some Parties Strive For Better Democracy
In Writing Their Platforms, Some Parties Strive For Better Democracy
It’s July in an election year which means that, among other things, it’s convention time. In the lead up to the conventions, parties are in a flurry of preparation, trying to get every element of their respective events together in time for the opening gavel. Amid all these preparations, however, there is one which stands above the rest. Before there can be a party convention, there must be a party platform. A party’s platform establishes its position on a plethora of issues ranging from civil
15 Jul, 2016
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3 min read
4 of the Most Brutal Presidential Campaigns in U.S. History
4 of the Most Brutal Presidential Campaigns in U.S. History
To many American voters, the dirty attacks of the 2016 election cycle are dizzying. Donald Trump has popularized the hashtag #CrookedHillary. Hillary Clinton characterizes Donald Trump as “temperamentally unfit and totally unqualified to be president.” Blows traded back and forth create a soap opera of vitriol and drama. And the voters can’t look away. Political attacks are nothing new, however. In fact, they’re nearly as old as the country and are a staple of presidential election politics.
13 Jul, 2016
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6 min read
Breaking His Promise Not to Run for Re-Election, Marco Rubio Must Answer for His Record
Breaking His Promise Not to Run for Re-Election, Marco Rubio Must Answer for His Record
On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, in breaking an earlier pledge to not run for two offices in the same year, announced he was running for re-election after all. The likelihood of the Republican senator retaining his seat seems high. However, numerous hurdles, including immigration and his reliability to show up for work, could complicate Rubio's quest for the nomination and election in November. On paper, Rubio appeared to be the future of the GOP and was touted by some as a "stealth" fro
27 Jun, 2016
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3 min read
Democratic Parties in 19 States Vote in Favor of Superdelegate Reform
Democratic Parties in 19 States Vote in Favor of Superdelegate Reform
To date, seventeen Democratic State Conventions, one legislative district convention, and one county convention have voted to either abolish or reform superdelegates. Following frustration voiced by Bernie Sanders and his supporters, Maine was the first state to pass a resolution at their convention in early May, followed closely by Alaska.Delegates Awarded to Democratic Candidates | InsideGov Since then, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, We
23 Jun, 2016
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2 min read
Independent Parties Join Forces to End Two-Party Hold on Presidential Elections
Independent Parties Join Forces to End Two-Party Hold on Presidential Elections
6/1/2016 - The United Independent Party of Massachusetts has reached an agreement in principle to join with the Independent Party of Oregon and the Independence Party of Minnesota as a co-founder of a coalition of moderate and centrist third parties. The parties will convene a national conference (or teleconference) in August to discuss the joint nomination of a candidate for president. The focus on presidential politics represents a significant shift for all three parties, which have tended to
04 Jun, 2016
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2 min read
Independent Parties in Oregon, Minnesota Announce Presidential Pact
Independent Parties in Oregon, Minnesota Announce Presidential Pact
Leaders of the Independent Party of Oregon and the Independence Party of Minnesota have reached a "broad strokes" agreement on joining together to form a national coalition of nonpartisan, moderate, and centrist third parties. The parties will convene a national conference or tele-conference this summer to discuss joint nomination of a candidate for president. The group has identified potential third-party partners in multiple states. "The Democratic and Republican parties are poised to nominat
12 May, 2016
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1 min read
How Many Superdelegates Has Bernie Sanders Picked Up?
How Many Superdelegates Has Bernie Sanders Picked Up?
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders is on a winning streak, having won eight of the last nine contests. Though Sanders still trails in terms of pledged delegates (whose support is tied to electoral outcomes in caucuses and primaries) by a count of 1,287 to 1,037, his deficit among superdelegates is even larger. Created in the early 1980s to empower "party leaders and elected officials" (PLEOs), superdelegates can vote for whichever candidate they prefer at the presidential nominating convention. Among
12 Apr, 2016
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3 min read
Does A Dwindling Rubio Campaign Mean an Uncertain Future for the GOP?
Does A Dwindling Rubio Campaign Mean an Uncertain Future for the GOP?
Following the weekend's primaries and the upcoming votes on Tuesday, many eyes remain fixed on a presidential candidate who has been highly touted, but has delivered few victories, leading to concerns about his campaign's viability. Florida U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, a candidate lauded as the future of the Republican Party, has failed to break through in this election cycle. As more critical elections approach, the senator could be left questioning the justification for his campaign. On Super T
07 Mar, 2016
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3 min read
Super Tuesday Victory Speeches Highlight Crucial Moment of Choice for Candidates and Voters
Super Tuesday Victory Speeches Highlight Crucial Moment of Choice for Candidates and Voters
One of the greatest things about political speeches is that often what is said is the least important aspect -- it's what was ignored, how the message was presented, or even the demeanor and tone of the speaker that is most telling. While Ted Cruz's statement that any Republican not having a win yet should depart the race was the understatement of the Republican establishment of the evening, his message came out like a sigh of relief that his home state of Texas and Oklahoma came to the rescue
02 Mar, 2016
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4 min read