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Maine voters are making history in the 2018 midterms as they are the first state in the nation to use ranked choice voting for US Senate and House general elections. The reform is changing the campaign dynamics in the state as candidates seek not only the first choice of voters, but the second or even third choice. Still, there is one sticking point that is causing many voters to scratch their heads: Why can't they use the same voting method for governor and state legislative races? For instan

In any campaign, big money players get the most attention. But Democrats running in California’s seven most competitive congressional districts are vastly outraising Republicans in small-dollar donations, according to a review of campaign money compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. It’s a display of voter enthusiasm that can pay long-term dividends for beneficiaries. Overall, Democratic candidates running in the seven GOP-held seats where Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump in 2016 hav

San Diego, CALIF. - President Trump's Water Infrastructure Act could be one of the most significant pieces of legislation to impact the future of California. The act gives the US Army Corps of Engineers the ability to oversee projects and policies. Importantly, the bipartisan measure passed the Senate 99-1. Last week Trump signed a presidential memorandum to promote the “reliable supply” of water in the West. The order gives the federal government the power to oversee major water infrastructu

As the midterm elections swiftly approach, the heat is on for voters to make big decisions about the future of our nation. In an era of media partisanship and political gridlock, voters face a tough time sifting through the information to come to terms with what is true and what is not. The 2018 American Civic Collaboration Awards have recognized organizations which represent excellence in elevating democracy and civic engagement through collaboration and with measurable results to back up the

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. - The California Labor Federation, the state’s major labor organization, is abandoning Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar’s campaign to unseat indicted Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter over his ambiguous stand on California’s gasoline tax. “We made the decision that it’s not a district that California Labor Federation will be engaged in,” federation spokesman Steve Smith said Monday. At the same time, the Labor Federation, organized labor’s umbrella organization in California, i

Much of the media's election coverage two weeks out from Election Day is focused on what kind of wave we are seeing -- red or blue -- and how Donald Trump will affect the outcome of the midterms. However, what often gets overlooked are the stories that matter to independent-minded voters. Here are the top 5 stories in nonpartisan news to start your week: 1. Nation's Only Independent Governor Suspends Re-Election Bid Alaska Governor Bill Walker announced late Friday that he is suspending his

How will independents vote in the upcoming elections? An opinion piece appearing in the New York Times this week, entitled “How to Win Swing Voters (And How to Lose Them),” says: "As we often hear, independent voters hold the power to swing elections. But most independent voters are not what they seem. There are two groups of independents. The 'pure independents' — about 25 percent of them — have no interest in politics and, as in the 2016 election, rarely even vote. They are unlikely to swing

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - WPVI-TV Action News of Pennsylvania has lost an important sponsor, The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, for excluding third parties from a televised U.S. Senate debate over the weekend, even though they're on the ballot this year. The Philadelphia ABC affiliate only invited the Democrat and Republican candidates to debate, despite the fact that the Green Party and Libertarian Party has candidates on the ballot in November. The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, w

There is only one governor in the US with an "I" next to their name: Alaska Governor Bill Walker. However, Walker announced late Friday that he has suspended his bid for re-election -- citing the poor odds against his campaign winning the election and preventing the candidate he least wants to win from getting elected. "With more time, I am confident that [Lieutenant Gov. Valerie Davidson] and I could deliver a message and a campaign that could earn a victory in this election," Walker wrote in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnEzyyssU8A Hollywood actress Jennifer Lawrence is warning Memphis voters not to be tricked at the ballot box. Local voters passed laws 10 years ago that implement ranked choice voting (aka instant runoff voting), increase accountability, and enact term limits. Now, Lawrence says, city officials are trying to overturn all of it. The Save IRV Memphis campaign is calling on voters to say no to all 3 charter questions on the November ballot. The questions are: I.