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The Democratic and Republican national conventions will take place later this month, but as the attention shifts to issues like possible vice presidential picks and weekend entertainment and theatrics, some are asking, "Who is paying for these conventions?" Thus far, however, the organizers for these conventions – nonprofit, nonpartisan entities known as "host committees" – have refused to disclose which groups and individuals are helping pay for these multi-million dollar events. This lack of

It's looking more and more like at least 3 presidential candidates will win electoral votes this cycle, something that hasn't happened since 1988 when Lloyd Bentsen received one electoral vote from faithless elector Margaret Leech. But it hasn't been an uncommon occurrence for more than two candidates to win electoral votes, happening 21 times out of the 56 presidential elections so far. Looking at these elections is interesting, because it should teach us something about our current political

Most media news outlets are calling this year’s Pennsylvania Senate race one of the most competitive this election season. Politico ranks incumbent Pat Toomey’s seat (R-PA) as the 5th most likely to see the incumbent defeated in November. Like most elections in the United States, independent candidates don’t get their fair share of airtime and the Pennsylvania Senate race is no different. A Google search of “Pennsylvania Senate race” yields many articles, but most only mention the Republican an

A recent poll shows that presumptive nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have record-high unfavorability ratings: 55 percent and 70 percent, respectively. Yet despite their unpopularity, the general electorate may not be exposed to third party candidates as an alternative. This is largely a result of the rules governing who is included in the presidential debates. According to guidelines set by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), a candidate must poll at 15 percent to be invited

"This is what Democrats united to beat Donald Trump look like. Get ready, Donald – we're coming." Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) Ever since the days of Lyndon Johnson's presidency, the standard playbook of the Democratic Party has been to put the far-left agenda off to the side to focus on center-left politics. The 'Great Society' had soured too many swing voters' opinions on the Democrats, forming the so-called Reagan Democrats -- a group of hard-working, moderate voters who had little to no

Amendment 30 to H.R. 4974 was defeated by one vote Thursday night, a measure that would have increased protections to LBGT workers of companies who contract with the government. Democrats chanted 'Shame!' as the Republican leadership stalled the proceedings to persuade a few of the defectors to switch their votes, with the final outcome being 212-213-8. 8 House members did not vote, 3 Republicans and 5 Democrats. Sometimes missing votes is inevitable; the lifetime average of missed votes in t

Senate Candidate Everett Stern identifies an all-consuming sense of apathy as one of the major problems facing America today. Apathy and cynicism, he says, have robbed citizens of their hopes and dreams, and all but snuffed out the spirit of innovation that once helped this nation become a world leader. Having persevered through significant personal challenges, Stern sees a light in the darkness; reaching that light requires a re-investment in values like integrity, freedom, justice and truth.

In June, I watched donald trump in New Hampshire speak at a campaign appearance in a big home before an all-white audience. (donald trump appears in lower case, as I refuse to accord him the dignity he routinely refuses others, but in doing so, I extend my apologies to e e cummings.) I watched his show courtesy of MSNBC, which astonishingly covered it live – all of it. Trump in his Live Free or Die campaign stop was my first indication that MSNBC, ostensibly the “liberal” cable network, would

Zoom In: Frontrunners are full steam ahead in Acela Primary Last Tuesday, voters in the Acela Primary made their voices heard. Donald Trump swept the Republican primaries by large margins. In the wake of his first majority win in New York’s primary, Trump earned 56.7% in Pennsylvania with Ted Cruz in a distant second at 21.6%. Trump also won 57.9% in Connecticut, 60.8% in Delaware, 54.4% in Maryland, and 63.8% in Rhode Island. These latter large percentage point wins were followed by John Kasic

Just when you thought independents couldn’t face any more voter discrimination this year, they will be hit with four closed primaries in a single day on April 26. This comes a week after independents were disenfranchised by the closed New York primary on April 19,  a primary where voters were required to register with a party six months in advance and a record amount of independents were told they didn't re-register in time or were turned away from the polls. The five contests on Tuesday are C