Hankster News for Independent Voters - January 26

The Top Two open primary system implemented for the first time in 2011is helping people leave the parties in California... Illinois struggles with a closed partisan primary system and Bill Daley (cand for Gov?) promotes top two... University of New Hampshire study of voter attitudes about climate change classifies independents as weather-sensitive... (really?) Read on!

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

Abel Maldonado, author of California's Top Two

• Elias: Voter registrations show parties just don't get it (Thomas D. Elias, Ventura County Star) All of which explains why changes like the "top two" primary system, adopted via ballot initiative in 2010 and used for the first time last year, are so popular. Anything depriving the major parties of some influence or promising more independent politicians will draw significant, often majority, support here.
• Md. voters favor assault weapons ban (DelmarvaNow.com) Slightly more than half of Democrats say stricter gun laws will do more to reduce school violence, and the same 52 percent of Republicans say armed guards are the better option. Independent voters slightly favor stricter laws.

OPEN PRIMARIES
Why Daley's Primary Plan Would Violate Federal Law (By Edward McClelland, NBC Chicago) Bill Daley’s plan to do away with partisan primaries could potentially create three election days in Illinois. Daley said Illinois should consider a system similar to that used in Chicago’s municipal elections -- any candidate who gets 50 percent of the vote in the primary avoids a runoff in the general election. If no candidate gets more than 50 percent, the top two candidates, regardless of party, advance to the general election.

LAST WORD

• Climate Change Beliefs of Independent Voters Shift With the Weather (Science Daily) "We find that over 10 surveys, Republicans and Democrats remain far apart and firm in their beliefs about climate change. Independents fall in between these extremes, but their beliefs appear weakly held -- literally blowing in the wind. Interviewed on unseasonably warm days, independents tend to agree with the scientific consensus on human-caused climate change. On unseasonably cool days, they tend not to," Hamilton and Stampone say.
• Among Independent voters, belief in climate change actually shifts with the weather (Robert T. Gonzalez, ion "We come from the future") Temperature effects concentrate among one subgroup, however: individuals who identify themselves as Independent, rather than aligned with a political party. Interviewed on unseasonably warm days, Independents tend to agree with the scientific consensus regarding anthropogenic climate change. On unseasonably cool days, they tend not to.

CA Independent Voter Organization Endorses Post-Partisan Candidates

“Top Two” Open Primary System Allowing New Coalitions Between Voters & Candidates

Proclaiming that California voters now have the tools to take on a government broken by partisanship, IndependentVoice.Org, a statewide association of independent voters,  announced its “Post Partisan” Candidate Endorsements. 
 

The group endorsed candidates Abel Maldonado (Republican, 24^th Congressional District), Marc Levine (Democrat, 10^th Assembly District), Bill Bloomfield (No Party Preference, 33^rd Congressional District), and Chad Walsh (No Party Preference, 28^th Assembly District). The candidates were selected based on their demonstrated support for political reforms that empower independent voters – referred to as “No Party Preference” in California – like the “top-two” open primary and redistricting reform. 
 

“For the first time in over a decade, independent voters will have a real voice in state and congressional races,” said Jason Olson, the Director of IndependentVoice.Org. “Independent voters believe that government mostly does what’s best for the political parties, and not the people. Independents strongly support the kind of democracy reforms needed to return power to the voters. We're proud to stand with candidates who want to work with independents to lead us beyond destructive partisanship and move the country forward.”

The 2012 election marks the debut of the open “top two” primary system and new districts drawn by a citizens commission instead of the State Legislature. Rather than running in party primaries, all candidates ran in a non-partisan voter primary in June. All voters were able to participate and vote for any candidate regardless of party, with the top two candidates moving on to a “run-off style” November election. IndependentVoice.Org was a key proponent of the successful redistricting reform and “top two” open primary measures passed by California voters. 
 

IndependentVoice.Org is part of the national independent movement pushing for similar reforms around the country, including in Arizona where this fall voters will have the opportunity to pass a “top two” open primary system.

Independent voters have been the fastest growing segment of the electorate in California over the past several decades. The most recent report by the Secretary of State puts the total number of “No Party Preference” voters at just over 3.6 million voters, or 21.28% of all registered voters.

Candidates Endorsed:

• Abel Maldonado, a Republican who formerly served as Lt. Governor and a State Legislator, is running in the 24th Congressional District in Santa Barbara County. Maldonado has a long record of working with both Republicans and Democrats to achieve meaningful reform.  Most notably, he led the effort to reform the state’s broken worker’s compensation system and worked with the IndependentVoice.org to successfully reform elections in California by putting the “top two” open primary on the 2010 ballot.  “The problem with government is Republicans attack Democrats and Democrats attack Republicans, all-the-while the people’s problems just get worse”, said Maldonado.  “I fought for the ‘top two’ open primary because we need to change the behavior of our politicians and that begins with changing the way they are elected.  Now and with the help of IndepedentVoice.Org, candidates have to talk to everyone to get elected, not just a small segment of an ideological base.  No longer will the 3.6 million independent voters in California be excluded from fully participating in the election process.  Hopefully, this is the first step in what will be national campaign of reform to give independents a full voice in our democratic process.” 
• Marc Levine, a Democrat, is a San Rafael City Councilmember and candidate for California's 10th Assembly District in Marin and Sonoma. Marc has a record of innovation and practical problem solving at the local level. Highlighting the approximately two-dozen contests across California between members of the same party, Levine is running against another Democrat who is supported by the Sacramento establishment. “I’m a strong Democrat who recognizes the vital importance of recognizing and reaching out to independent voters, and the importance of reforms that empower all voters regardless of party,” said Levine. “Unaligned voters want to see results, not special interest politics or partisan bickering – and they are fed up with Sacramento’s broken political culture. If elected, I will strive to get Sacramento working again for our communities and to ensure that the voices of independent voters are heard in the State Capitol.”
• Bill Bloomfield, an independent (“No Party Preference”), is a longtime political reform advocate and successful businessman running in the 33^rd Congressional District that spans the coastal area of Los Angeles. Many political observers feel that he has the best chance of any independent Congressional candidate in the country to win his race. "I felt compelled to run for Congress because our country won’t be able to recover from a few more years of a hyper-partisan and broken Congress,” said Bloomfield. “We must confront the power and influence of the special interests. Its time to force both major parties to start solving problems and stop playing partisan political games that threaten our nation's future. That’s why I’m proud to have the endorsement of IndependentVoice.Org and the independent voters they represent."
• Chad Walsh, an independent (“No Party Preference”), is a Trustee and former Governing Board President of the local community college district and successful businessman running in the 28^th Assembly District in Silicon Valley. Walsh, empowered by the new “top two” open primary and fairly drawn district, is running on a message of “moving beyond partisanship.” “We need solutions more than ever, but all we get from Sacramento is divisive partisanship from politicians who are serving narrow special interests or strictly partisan agendas,” said Walsh. I'm running for State Assembly to help move California beyond partisanship and special interests and provide solutions to the issues that people care about. Independent voters have been at the forefront of that fight, and I’m proud to receive the endorsement of IndependentVoice.Org.”

Round-Up: California's First "Top Two" Primary Yields Less Party Control, More Independent Participation

Media coverage of California's first "Top Two" primary last week was somewhat varied, most grumbling about how it didn't produce the results that was hoped for and locked out 3rd parties...

Notable exception from Jason Olson, an activist with IndependentVoice.org in IVN: "[Last Tuesday's] vote showed what removing party control over the elections can do. We had a primary process that was about selecting the best leader to move California forward, rather than who was the best partisan to fight for their party. [F]ive independent (“No Party Preference”) candidates running for the California Legislature placed in the “top two” of their respective races and will advance to the general election to face an incumbent. Top Two Open Primary champion Abel Maldonado (R) will also advance.

The Hankster is a strong backer of Top Two, Open Primaries and Nonpartisan Municipal Elections and has campaigned vigorously for all.

Here is a round-up of commentary on California's primary last Tuesday:

• Independent Thoughts on CA’s Primary Results (By Jason Olson, IVN) Congratulations again to the voters who supported the Top Two Open Primary and Redistricting Reform measures in past elections. Yesterday’s vote showed what removing party control over the elections can do. We had a primary process that was about selecting the best leader to move California forward, rather than who was the best partisan to fight for their party.
  
• Dems dismayed by Assembly shutout (Written by Sean Janssen, The Union Democrat) Democratic Party leaders throughout the State Assembly 5th District were in a sour mood Wednesday as their party will have no representative on the Nov. 6 ballot for the legislative seat. Though there had been a handful of special elections for vacant offices in the state since voters approved the Proposition 14 “top two” primary in November 2010, Tuesday’s primary marked the first regular statewide election using the system.
• California’s Open Primary Costs Super-PAC $711,000 on Just One Race (By Ellen Uchimiya,
  Bloomberg/ Political Capital) That cash infusion seemed to help. Brownley and Strickland advanced after Tuesday’s primary. If this had been a closed primary, Brownley would have advanced anyway… and the House Majority PAC would have saved $711,000.
• Herdt: An election to confound Will Rogers (By Timm Herdt, Ventura County Star) Parties have infrastructure. Independents, who have to build their campaigns from scratch, don't stand much of a chance of competing against that — unless, like New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, they have bottomless personal wealth.
• California's election reform flops (By Joe Mathews, LA Times) Oh, well, But give the reformers credit; they did make change. In place of our old system, we got something that preserves many of our worst political traditions — while making things a little bit worse.
• California Dreaming: Why New Election Rules Won't Help Centrists (By Josh Kraushaar, National Journal/ Hotline On Call) Two national newspapers today reach dramatically different conclusions about the impact of California's new top-two election system, which was designed to help elect more centrists and undermine the party primary system that had long been in place. The New York Times concludes the open, non partisan primary served as a "splash of cold water" to those reformers who thought it would "bring a new wave of independent candidates and voters." The Wall Street Journal concluded the system worked, because finalists "now must search for support from independents and voters in other parties." Who's right?
• California Centrists See Their Stock Rise Open-Primary Results Show That Finalists Now Must Search for Support From Independents and Voters in Other Parties (By JIM CARLTON and JUSTIN SCHECK, Associated Press, Wall Street Journal) The state still leans heavily Democratic, with 43% of voters registered as Democrats in April, compared with 30% as Republicans and 21% with no party preference—up from 14% who said they were impartial 12 years ago. Appealing to those in the middle now becomes more crucial for candidates like Lois Capps, a liberal-leaning Democratic congresswoman from the state's Central Coast. Before, she rarely needed to reach out to conservative Republicans, said Bill Carrick, her campaign strategist. But after a centrist Republican named Abel Maldonado challenged her in a runoff, Mr. Carrick said Ms. Capps would reach out to the GOP base.
• Fletcher: No regrets after loss about leaving GOP (By JULIE WATSON, Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle) New York Times columnist David Brooks called his bid a nationwide test case on whether it's possible to succeed as an independent alternative. That didn't happen Tuesday.
• California’s Nonpartisan Primary Shows Independents to Be in Short Supply (By JENNIFER MEDINA, New York Times) David Wasserman, who analyzes House races for The Cook Political Report, called the outcome in San Bernardino a “freak political accident,” particularly because President Obama is likely to win the area by as much as a double-digit margin.
• California electoral reforms yield no big changes (By JULIET WILLIAMS, Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle) Voters mostly rejected the independent and moderate candidates that the changes were intended to bolster to reduce partisanship, instead sending nearly every state legislative and congressional incumbent forward to runoffs in November, in some cases against opponents in their own party. A few races remained too close to call Wednesday.
• How California’s Top-Two Open Primary Shrinks Voter Choice in Congressional Races in November (Ballot Access News) The San Francisco Chronicle’s story about the election returns is that the top-two system “shook up the system.” Actually, in every single congressional race in which one incumbent was running, that incumbent came in first. In the races with two incumbents running against each other due to redistricting, one of the incumbents always came in first and the other incumbent always came in second. As has been shown in Louisiana and Washington, top-two systems make it far easier for incumbents to be re-elected than normal systems do.
• Shift in voting rules shakes up primary elections (Carla Marinucci, San Francisco Chronicle) Californians were also voting for the first time for candidates vying to represent legislative and congressional districts drawn up not by gerrymandering politicians or the courts, but by a citizens' commission - the result of a ballot measure that voters passed in 2008, Proposition 11. Stark was one of several incumbents once considered invincible and now thought to be in danger of losing their jobs in redrawn districts.
• California voters mixed about new top-two primary (By Jim Sanders, Sac Bee) The new system also gives more clout to no-party-preference voters, whose ranks have jumped from 10.7 percent of California's electorate in 1996 to 21.3 percent today. Republican Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria, as a state senator, forced the top-two primary onto the 2010 ballot by making it one of several demands to Democratic legislative leaders in return for his pivotal vote to end an 81-day budget impasse in 2009.
• Independent Overview: CA Primary Preliminary Results (By Damon Eris, IVN) With 100% of precincts now reporting, it appears that California’s first statewide test of its new top two open primary system did not result in higher levels of voter turnout, as had been predicted by supporters of the system. Indeed, this primary election may be noteworthy for its historically low voter turnout in a presidential election year. Preliminary reports indicate that voter turnout across the state hovered in the 30-35% range, with the vast majority of eligible voters opting to stay home rather than head to the polls.
• California primary results: GOP catches a ‘top-two’ break (Posted by Aaron Blake, Washington Post/The Fix by Chris Cillizza) House Republicans got a big break under California’s new primary system Tuesday, after Democrats failed to get a candidate into the general election for Rep. Gary Miller’s (R-Calif.) swing district.
• As We See It: The independent party's over (EDITORIAL Santa Cruz Sentinel) California voters sent a crushing message to minor parties in 2010 when they approved the open primary for Tuesday's election. Because the new system sends the top two finishers in state races, regardless of party affiliation, onto the November ballot, this effectively ends the chances of the Green, Libertarian, American Independent and Peace and Freedom parties in those elections… Third parties nationally and minor parties in California have a purpose: To bring independent ideas and candidates to public attention. Their presence has been severely diminished, and it's a loss.
• Brad Breithaupt: Third parties left out of new 'top-two' primary (By Brad Breithaupt, Marin Independent Journal) With a dozen candidates running for Congress and seven vying for Assembly, voters hardly were denied a choice on the June 5 ballot. There was a variety of experience and politics to choose from, even though most of the candidates were Democrats.

California Independent Voter Organization Endorses Candidates for Congress in June "Top Two" Primary

Group says independent voters and their concerns about broken government key to election

IndependentVoice.Org, a statewide organization representing the interests of California's 3.6 million independent voters, today announced its endorsements of Congressional candidates Stacey Lawson (Democrat, 2nd District), Linda Parks (independent, 26th District), and Abel Maldonado (Republican, 24th District) for the June 5, 2012 primary. The candidates were selected based on their support for political reforms that empower independent voters like the open primary and redistricting reform.

“Independent voters will be an influential factor in many of California’s Congressional races for the first time in over a decade,” said Jason Olson, the Director of IndependentVoice.Org.

“Independent voters span the spectrum from conservative to moderate to liberal, but are unified around their belief that partisanship has broken our government and we have to fix it if we want to move the country forward. We’re proud to stand with candidates who support the kinds of reforms necessary – like open primaries and redistricting reform – that take power away from the political parties and return it to the people.”

The June 5, 2012 primary marks the debut of the open “top-two” primary where all voters – including independents (now referred to as “No Party Preference” voters) – are able to participate and vote for any candidate they choose. The two candidates receiving the highest number of votes then advance to a “run-off” style election in November. It also marks the introduction of election districts drawn by an independent commission rather than politicians in the State Legislature. IndependentVoice.Org was a key proponent in passing both changes via voter approved measures in 2008 and 2010 and is part of the national independent movement pushing for these changes around the country.

Abel Maldonado, a Republican who formerly served as Lt. Governor and a State Legislator, is running in the 24th Congressional District in Santa Barbara County. Maldonado’s budget deal in the State Legislature put the top two open primary on the 2010 ballot and he worked with IndependentVoice.Org for its passage. “I put the top-two open primary on the 2010 ballot, and I’m proud to have stood with IndependentVoice.Org to give 3.6 million independent voters the right to participate fully in our elections process,” said Maldonado. “I’m eager to help take these reforms across the country if elected as the Congressional Representative from the 24th District.”

Stacey Lawson, a Democrat, a businesswoman and first time candidate, is running in the 2nd Congressional District in the North Coast area. "I’ve worked to bring people from all sides of an issue together to get things done – that’s how I’ve been able to create hundreds of jobs and help small businesses grow," said Lawson. "Creating high-wage jobs and rebuilding the middle class is not a partisan issue. I look forward to working with independent voters and all Californians to put America back to work."

Linda Parks, a longtime member of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors recently re-registered as an independent voter in order to run for Congress in the 26th District. Parks  recently won the endorsement of the Los Angeles Times, and many political observers feel that she has the best chance of any independent Congressional candidate in the country to win her race. “We need to end the divisive partisan politics that is gripping our country and damaging our economy,” said Parks. “The polarization in Washington is not only hurting our nation, it is also hurting our future, and the way to stop it is simple. We need to elect people to Congress who will work with both political parties.”

Olson said IndependentVoice.Org was hoping to expand its candidate education and endorsement process in the general election. “With all the new changes empowering independents, this is an important pilot test to show what these reforms could mean for the rest of the country. We’re excited about these endorsements, and we’re already thinking about how to expand the influence of independent voters in the second round of elections.”


Joyce Dattner, Chair of independentvoice.org, congratulates California voters on passage of Prop 14 in 2010, giving independents the vote in the primaries

Utah's own Abel Maldonado--Sheryl Allen

I think Utah may have found it's own Abel Maldonado. Sheryl Allen who appears in this KCPW radio program was a Republican representative in the Utah legislature. She did not run for re-election in 2010 but instead ran as a Republican Lt. Governor with Democrat Peter Corroon for Governor. Corroon did not support open primaries and predictably lost. In this program Allen indicates that just like the 17th amendment allows the people to directly elect US Senators, the voters now are plentifully informed and grown up enough to vote directly on who will appear on the general election ballot.

kcpw.org podcast link 15DEC11

Former Lt Gov Abel Maldonado Under Attack

CALIFORNIA
Central Coast Republican looks to mobilize opposition against Abel Maldonado's congressional run (by Christopher A. Guzman, CAIVN) With California's top-two open primary system and redrawn congressional districts almost certain to play a major role in the 2012 election, San Luis Obispo financial planner Matt Kokkonen is on a mission to ensure that former Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado is kept from winning the state's 24th congressional district.

Abel Maldonado May Benefit from Top Two + Independent Redistricting

CALIFORNIA

• Few political jolts in Monterey County redistricting plan (By LARRY PARSONS, Monterey Herald) The biggest buzz about the new maps is to the south of the county. Republicans are hoping the new 24th congressional district will enable Abel Maldonado, a former Republican state senator from Santa Maria who used to represent Monterey County, to defeat eight-term Democratic Rep. Lois Capps of Santa Barbara.
• Maldonado, Capps in SYV congressional race (By Marga K. Cooley/Associate Editor, Santa Ynez Valley News)

California Political Landscape Changing

INDEPENDENT VOTERS
Debt crisis may help Obama woo independent voters (By CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press) The "American people" who are up for grabs on Election Day are mostly independents. Obama's allies hope they see the president as the adult in the room in the debt ceiling confrontation, and will reward that role 16 months from now.

CALIFORNIA
The region’s political landscape is changing (Pacific Coast Business Times) Whether her opponent is conservative Tom Watson or more moderate former Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado, it will likely be independent voters, not hard-line party members, who decide who will represent the two counties in Congress.

Can Independents Reform America?

national conference of independents

Saturday, February 12, 2011
Skirball Performing Arts Center

at New York University

(the conference is free but you must pre-register)


Program Highlights

New Documentary
Watch the premier of the latest political documentary by Jackie Salit, the President and Founder of IndependentVoting.org.  This multimedia presentation covers the impact of the independent movement on the Obama White House, on Congress, on the political parties and on a cross section of political forces.  This cutting edge documentary is a great introduction to independent politics.  It explains the relevance of the independent movement to urgent social, economic and cultural problems in America.

Talk/Talk
Hear a "Talk/Talk" conversation with Jackie Salit and Dr. Fred Newman, the Stanford-trained philosopher, playwright, author and pioneer of independent politics. Talk/Talk is a Newman/Salit specialty - think Charlie Rose, Oprah and Aristotle all rolled up into one! 

Panel Discussion
Moderated by Jackie Salit and IndependentVoting.org General Counsel, Harry Kresky with:

•     Theresa Amato, Ralph Nader’s Presidential Campaign Manager in 2004;
•     John Avlon, Senior Political Consultant, TheDailyBeast.com; Founder, No Labels
•     Lenora Fulani, Co-founder, IndependentVoting.org
•     Michael Hardy, General Counsel, National Action Network
•     Douglas Schoen, pollster and author
•     Former California Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado
•     James Mangia, Executive Director, St. John's Well Child & Family Center and Founding Secretary, National Reform Party
•     Cathy Stewart, Chair, New York County Independence Party
•     Bradley Tusk, Founder, Tusk Strategies; Campaign Manager Bloomberg 2009

Mock Trial
Are you a fan of Law and Order, The Good Wife, or even Judge Judy?  If so, you don't want to miss this.  We will be staging a mock trial to explore a fictional (but not improbable) "people vs. the parties" controversy. A cast of prominent civil rights and election lawyers, actors, elected officials, and a famous "surprise witness" will stage a courtroom trial and in the process shed light on the growing conflict between parties' rights and voters' rights.

Dispatches from the Movement
Get the inside scoop from IndependentVoting.org’s leaders on what's happening on the ground, behind the scenes, in the hallways of power and on the street corners, as independents intensify their efforts to enact structural political reforms like open primaries across the country.  This is independent politics straight from the source.

Discussion and Dialogue
Conference attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the days’ proceedings in an open mic session, not to mention the chance to meet and mingle throughout the day.

Register here or email national@cuip.org

Salute to Abel Maldonado; Principles or Plots in NY State Senate?

A salute to California's out-going Lt. Gov Abel Maldonado, a leader who has continued to stand by his constituents -- THE VOTERS! -- and buck the party system. And now, what's all that jockeying going on in Albany NY???


INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Ruy Teixeira: Make government more effective, not smaller (Orange County Register) Voters in November, independents included, were primarily concerned with the state of the economy and the government’s perceived failure to improve it. This is particularly true of bona fide swing voters—independents who are not disguised partisans of one party or the other.

OPEN PRIMARIES

• Did Arnold deliver? (Chico News Review) Let’s first roll the credits: a $42 billion package of infrastructure improvements; the toughest auto-emissions law in the country; establishment of a redistricting commission and voter approval of an open-primary system...
• ‘Top-two’ isn’t ‘open’ (LETTER Chico News Review) This article would be improved if it referred to Proposition 14 as the “top-two” election system.
• Idaho GOP lawmakers have closed primary bill ready (Associated Press, KHQ - Boise) Idaho Republican lawmakers have a measure ready for the 2011 Legislature to close their primary elections to registered Democratic voters, but are still awaiting a federal judge's ruling in the case.

ELECTORAL COLLEGE

• Will the Oregon Legislature help abolish the Electoral College? (By Grant Schott, Blue Oregon) In 2009, the Oregon House voted 39-19 in favor, but the bill died in the Oregon Senate.

REDISTRICTING

• State Supreme Court to hear redistricting case (By HOWARD FISCHER, Capitol Media Services, Yuma Sun) The two GOP legislators contend that two of the Republicans on the list of nominees, Mark Schnepf and Steven Sossaman, are not entitled to serve because they are members of irrigation district boards. The 2000 law precludes anyone holding “public office” from serving on the redistricting commission.
• Cuomo calls for ethics reforms (Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record) Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for campaign finance reform that includes public financing for elections and contribution limits, an independent redistricting commission, independent monitoring and enforcement of ethics laws…

2012

• White Flight - President Obama’s path to a second term may rely on states shaped by the same social forces he embodies. (By Ronald Brownstein, National Journal) Minorities were almost exactly twice as likely as whites to say that life would be better for the next generation than for their own; whites were considerably more likely to say that it would be more difficult.
• POLITICS AND MOTHER NATURE (by LARRY MENDTE, Philadelphia Magazine/The Philly Post) The national press has been so bad for Bloomberg that his Independent run for president now seems doubtful. At least he made it back to New York from his home in Bermuda to deal with the blizzard.
• Memories of reform (LETTER News Observer - Triangle NC) Now in the minority, Hackney has suddenly gotten religion, jumping on a bipartisan bandwagon as he chastises Republican leaders and calls for enactment of redistricting reform.

CALIFORNIA

• Opinion: Maldonado did well – despite a miniscule staff and red-ink budget (By Amanda Fulkerson, CAPITOL WEEKLY) Everyone knows Maldonado is the god father of the open primary system, but couple that with his other successful proposition, 2009's 1F that chastised legislators by giving voters the opportunity to take away their pay increases while they fail to do their job and you can imagine the distain party bosses feel for him.
• Yes, Maldonado would become governor (By Malcolm Maclachlan, CAPITOL WEEKLY) “If Brown is struck by lightning, Abel would become Governor for his term,” said Amanda Fulkerson, Maldonado’s chief of staff. “By constitution, he’s still Lieutenant Governor and we’re still here toiling away.”

NEW YORK

• Savino throws New York Senate Democratic leaders a curveball, joins breakaway coalition (By Judy L. Randall, Staten Island Advance) Four maverick Democratic state senators -- including Staten Island's Diane Savino -- yesterday broke with their minority leadership to form an "independent" coalition, one that aims to work with Republicans in the majority.
• Ferrer Supports Indy Dem Caucus (By David Freedlander, NY Observer/Politicker) For one thing, as Dan Janison noted yesterday, the new group quickly earned the moniker "The Caucasian Caucus," since it featured only white members of a conference that is mostly Black and Hispanic. Ferrer, who aimed to the be first Puerto Rican mayor of New York can give them some ethnic cred.
• Four freshman stand by Senate Dem leadership (by Casey Seiler, Capitol bureau chief, Albany Times Union/Capitol Confidential) After Mike Gianaris, Tim Kennedy, Gustavo Rivera and Tony Avella introduced themselves to the assembled press, the first question was obvious: What’s it like to join a conference that just lost four of its members?
• Dissension in the Senate ranks (by Jay Jochnowitz, Editorial page editor, Albany Times Union/The Observation Deck) Today’s editorial: For a change, some constructive dissent in the Senate. If only all rank and file members held the leadership on both sides to account.

California Starts 2011 with Open Primaries

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• OpIndependent: The Declaration of Independents (By Michael Weymouth, Wicked Local Hingham) It could be argued that Independents should occupy a space halfway between liberals and conservatives, but the word independent allows one to go wherever one chooses within that space.
• 54 Percent of Voters Oppose FCC Net Neutrality Rules, Report Says (By: Chloe Albanesius, PC Magazine) Republicans and independent voters were overwhelmingly opposed to the FCC's net neutrality rules, Rasmussen said.

OPEN PRIMARIES

• Don't limit political choice (LETTER Casper WY Tribune) SF13 is a bad piece of legislation and shouldn't see the light of day. if anything there should be a bill introduced for open primaries.
• Mandate two-year budgets, remove outdated red tape for businesses (By Abel Maldonado, Special to The Sac Bee) Since [Prop 14's] passage, party bosses have challenged the measure in several courts - each and every time I've intervened to defend this important reform. I'm proud that I've been successful and in 2012, every primary election will be open to all voters - regardless of party.
• Our View: Promise, challenges in new year (Merced Sun Star) Under the old system, Democrats and Republicans tended to nominate candidates from the extremes of their parties. Now candidates will have to appeal to all voters instead of merely the partisan voters from their parties.
• Schwarzenegger delivers final weekly address (by Lilian Kim , ABC Local KGO San Francisco) "With redistricting and open primaries, we passed the greatest political reforms since Hiram Johnson."

POLITICS 2011

• Blacks gravitate toward Braun for Chicago mayor (By Don Babwin-Associated Press, Washington Times)

EDUCATION REFORM

• Four Reasons Finland’s Schools are Better Than Ours (posted by: Ann Bibby, Care2.com) Finland does not promote the idea of educating its young as a competition. Schools work in tandem and cooperation is the rule rather than the freakish exception. Interestingly, Shanghai – whose students bested Finland in math and science this year – also shuns the competitive model of school reform.

Kresky: California's Top Two Primary System, Toward a Stronger Coalition for Political Reform

by Harry Kresky
Counsel to IndependentVoting.org
Posted: December 21, 2010 11:06 AM
Huffington Post

Last week the California Supreme Court refused to issue an injunction blocking the implementation of Proposition 14 in several upcoming special elections. The measure, which won 54% of the vote in a referendum last June, eliminates party primaries in favor of a "top two" system where there is a first round of voting in which all candidates appear on one ballot and all voters participate on equal footing, with the top two vote getters going on to the general election.


Top two was supported by a coalition which included Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado, the Chamber of Commerce, the AARP, IndependentVoice.org and California Independent Voter Network (CAIVN). They took on and defeated California's political parties, major and minor.
Opponents of top two knew they could not succeed in a direct legal challenge as the U.S. Supreme Court has already upheld the State of Washington's top two system. Washington State Grange v. Washington State Republican Party, 552 U.S. 442 (2008). Instead they identified two peripheral aspects of the new system and tried to parlay that into an argument to take the whole thing down. So far they have been unsuccessful, and while the litigation has not yet been fully concluded, it is unlikely their challenge to top two will prevail.

As in the lead up to the referendum, the third parties have been out front in the effort to stop top two. In the litigation they have questioned the legality of (1) limiting descriptions of party affiliation that can appear on the ballot next to the names of candidates to parties that have achieved official recognition under California laws in effect for decades (Democratic Party , Republican Party, Libertarian Party, Green Party, American Independent Party and Peace & Freedom Party); and (2) eliminating write-in votes in round two. While either of these two complaints could be remedied without overturning the top two, the plaintiffs have asked the Court to ignore the wording of the enabling legislation and existing legal norms to hold that if any aspect of the system is invalid, the entire system must fail.


Allowing write-ins in round two would undermine top two because the explicit purpose of the system is to provide a face off between the top two candidates in the general election, ensuring that the person elected has a majority. However, the U.S. Supreme Court has already held that a state need not allow write-in votes. Burdick v. Takushi, 504 U.S. 428 (1992) So the argument that top two must fail because it precludes write-ins in round two is frivolous. And there is nothing inherent in top two that would prevent write-in candidates in round one.


The issue pertaining to ballot listing is more interesting and complex. Achieving official ballot status requires registering 103,024 voting age Californians into that party or getting 1,030,233 voters to sign a petition. But there are all sorts of political affiliations that either do not meet those requirements or which do not aspire to be political parties. There are good arguments for and against allowing them to be listed on the ballot. To allow any and all such entities to be listed gives the voters more information about a candidate and the candidate greater latitude to express who he or she is; to limit the listing to officially recognized parties permits a voter to confirm that a particular candidate is indeed registered into the party listed on the ballot and, further, that the afflation listed is more than just six guys who meet for Friday night poker and call themselves the "card party." Independent voters who do not like political parties might favor expanding what a candidate can say about their affiliations on the ballot to more than just a party. But the absence of that option at this time is not a reason to strike down Proposition 14. Actually, it's a reason to implement Proposition 14, which will create an environment more favorable to non-party players. Better to revisit the ballot listing issues further down the road.

With the litigation winding down, and special elections run under top two just around the corner, it is time for the minor parties to reconsider their relationship to this important reform. The new electoral terrain opening up in our country's most populous state creates possibilities for independents and minor party members to work together to achieve a fairer and more inclusive electoral process.


Leaders such as Lt. Governor Maldonando, who was recently presented with an Anti-Corruption Award by the New York City Independence Party, are looking to build new alliances--including with independents--that can achieve progress on key issues such as immigration reform.


In this moment of possibility, it is important to remember what independents and minor party members have in common: a recognition that the major parties have too long placed partisan interests over the national interest; a belief that the existing two party arrangement keeps the policy dialogue within too narrow a framework; and a commitment to leveling the electoral playing field.

Abel Maldonado Recieves 2010 Anti-Corruption Award from NYC Independence Party

California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado received a 2010 Anti-Corruption Award from NYC Independence Party Sunday afternoon at the Tribeca Grill. Maldonado, introduced at the event by independentvoting.org president Jackie Salit, was responsible for putting top two open primary initiative Proposition 14 on the ballot this year in California. Prop 14 was passed with 60% of the vote and allows 3.4 million independent and decline-to-state voters in the state to vote in primaries. Lt. Gov. Maldonado will be speaking this afternoon at the No Labels launch in NYC (see livestream here)

UPDATED: Richard Winger (Ballot Access News) just called in with a correction. Prop 14 passed with 53.73% of the vote. Thanks, Rich!

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES FOR INDEPENDENT VOTERS 10/8/10

MIDTERMS

• David Plouffe: 2010 Election Won't be Like 1994 (Posted by Robert Hendin, CBS News/Political Hotsheet) As for the chances of keeping the House and Senate in November, Plouffe said that the Democrats are making progress but need to continue that trajectory. He doesn't see another surge by the GOP in the last few weeks, though he admits Republicans are in a better position with independent voters than they were in either of the last elections.

CALIFORNIA

• California lieutenant governor candidates trade sharp barbs (By Phil Willon, Los Angeles Times) In a dramatic 60-minute debate in Silicon Valley, Republican Abel Maldonado, the incumbent, and Democrat Gavin Newsom trade accusations of pampering criminal illegal immigrants and slashing public school funds.

MASSACHUSETTS

• Shaking it up - State needs diversity in its congressional delegation (By Ann Murphy, Boston Globe) The largest party affiliation in Massachusetts, as in many other states, is “unenrolled.’’ This group of independent voters without a party makes up 51.44 percent of all registered voters in the state and it’s growing.

UTAH

• Utah media shuts out independent candidates (Examiner Salt Lake City Political Buzz, Alison Peek) Following an investigation by the Utah League of Independent Voters (ULIV), it seems some stations have specific policies about how well a candidate is doing in the race before they are invited to the debate. KUED only allows candidates with poll numbers of at least 5%.

BLOOMBERG 2012

• Draft Michael Bloomberg Committee Press Conference (PRESS RELEASE PR Newswire) Thursday, October 14, 2010.Combine Independents, Independence and Green Parties to create critical mass to create America's Third Major Party
• Bloomberg: A Liberal in Moderate’s Clothing (by Mark Impomeni, Human Events - Leading Conservative Media Since 1944) New York City Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson, the former communications director for Hillary Clinton’s failed 2008 presidential campaign, summed up Bloomberg’s national appeal. “He's an independent who comes to his positions, not based on an ideology or a party identification,” Wolfson said. “We live in a political moment where people are tired of partisanship, and the mayor is a leading independent in this country. Candidates are very eager to have his endorsements, from both parties.”
• Poll: Republicans remain revved up about Nov. 2 elections (Miami Herald, Steven Thomma) Marist: In a 3-way Obama-Palin-Bloomberg race, Bloomberg would take 11 percent of Democrats, 21 percent of Republicans and 23 percent of independents. His strongest base: independent men, 29 percent. His weakest: Democratic women, 11 percent.

NEW YORK

• Fulani espouses the mantra of ‘two good choices’ (By STEPHON JOHNSON, Amsterdam News) As a founder of the Independence Party of New York, Fulani has promoted the political entity’s causes for two-plus decades. Looking for another option for politically minded Black folks, Fulani believes that the key to challenging the current two-party dominance is investing in independence. “It is a vehicle to challenge the partisan and corrupt self-interests of the state’s Democratic and Republican parties and bring reform to our judicial system, which is so desperately needed,” said Fulani.
• New York City Independence Party Files Amicus in Support of Conservative/Working Families Lawsuit Over How to Count Certain Ballots (Ballot Access News)
• Trail Mix (By JENNIFER FERMINO and DAVID SEIFMAN, NY Post) Democratic gubernatorial nominee Cuomo, GOP rival Paladino and all minor-party contenders are now scheduled to debate Oct. 18 at Hofstra University for the campaign's first televised slugfest. That Battle Royale, to be carried by News 12, NY1 and YNN, will include Howie Hawkins of the Green Party, the Anti-Prohibition Party's Kristin Davis, Jimmy McMillan of the Rent is Too Damn High Party, the Freedom Party's Charles Barron, and the Libertarian Party's Warren Redlich.
• Q Poll: Cuomo Pulls Away (By David Freedlander, NY Observer) "After the dust settled from Paladino's big primary win, the big switch was in the independent vote - a small edge for Paladino two weeks ago turns into a small edge for Cuomo this time," said Quinnipiac Poll director Maurice Carroll.

LAST WORD(S)

• Will America Get a Third Party? The Independent Movement is Growing (POSTED BY NANCY HANKS, The Moderate Voice)
• The New Republic: This Is Not The End Of US Power (by DAVID A. BELL, The New Republic/NPR)

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS 8/25/10

OPEN PRIMARIES

• AZ: Irvin Commentary: 'Open' primary still closed for many - Arizona's open primary still a lock for 2 parties (By: Steve Irvin, ABC15)
• DC: Independent Voter Fracas Heating Up (Posted by Alan Suderman, Washington City Paper) Tomorrow Team Fenty and Team Gray will square off at the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics over whether or not the city’s 72,000 registered independent voters should be able to vote in the Democratic primary next month.
• AZ: Poll: Most Arizonans Want Jungle Primaries (POSTED BY JIM NINTZEL, Tucson Weekly)
• VT: Voters Head To Polls For Primary Election (Melody Bodette, Vermont Public Radio)
• FL: Open primary needed to boost voter turnout (LETTER The Tampa Tribune)

TUESDAY'S PRIMARIES

• Primaries coast to coast test Establishment vs. Outsiders (By Dan Balz, Mercury News/Washington Post ) Five states were holding contests -- Arizona, Florida, Alaska, Vermont and Oklahoma -- on one of the last major primary days before the general election in November.
• Vermont Voters Pick Candidates for State, Federal Offices; Leahy Wins Nomination (Fox News)

CALIFORNIA

• Judge rules that Maldonado can continue fight for open primaries (By Kurtis Alexander - Santa Cruz Sentinel/Mercury News) Dutta, who filed suit July 28 to block the measure, says he's not necessarily opposed to Proposition 14 or open primaries, just how they're being implemented. Dutta's lawsuit challenges the legislation implementing Proposition 14, specifically provisions that discard write-in votes in general elections and deny minor party candidates from listing their party affiliation.
• Bell, Stern to lead task force on updating Political Reform Act (Sac Bee)
• Independent voters haven't yet seen what they're looking for in California governor's race (BySteve Lopez, LA Times)
• California Lawsuit Over “Top-Two” Becomes a 3-Cornered Fight (Ballot Access News)

PENNSYLVANIA

• Cross-Party Endorsements Support Candidates, Not Canons (Newsweek) The For-the-Sake-of-Bipartisanship Endorsement: Hagel is not the only big name endorsement Sestak has in his corner; New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has also publicly backed Sestak’s campaign.

SOUTH CAROLINA

• Scott's destiny challenged by third party candidates (Posted by Greg Hambrick, Charleston City Paper)

NEW YORK

• DSCC Spends On Consultants, WFP, But Not Espada (By Edward-Isaac Dovere, City Hall News) In the last month, Senate Democrats spent $227,000 on consultants, $69,000 on an additional contribution to the Working Families Party and $253,000 on behalf of a wide range of candidates—including nearly every incumbent facing a primary—but not a cent so far for Espada. [i.e. independence comes with a high price tag... -NH]
• Como, Addabbo jockey for position (BY PETE DAVIS, Queens Courier)
• Newest Councilman Gets a Free Pass (By MICHAEL HOWARD SAUL, Wall Street Journal)

NYC CHARTER REVISION

• Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied (Henry J. Stern, Huffington Post)
• Charter Commission Approves Term Limits Question (Gotham Gazette/Wonkster)

LAST WORD

• Public yawns while press freaks out over mosque story (Eric Boehlert, Media Matters) I’d sure like to know the last news story that was “trumping all,” as NBC’s Gregory put it, and nearly half of America’s independent voters didn’t even know what the story was.

Lt. Governor Maldonado Issues Statement on Successful Open Primary Lawsuit Intervention

From a press release just in:

 

“Today, the court sided with the voters to protect their rights by officially allowing me to intervene in a lawsuit brought by political insiders in an attempt to block implementation of open primaries. I will continue to do everything in my power to defend the open primary system because California voters deserve equal access to the ballot and am looking forward to the court upholding the will of the people.”

 

California voters approved an open primary system by passing Proposition 14 on the June 8, 2010 ballot.

 

Proposition 14 Victory Coalition Press Conference in Sacramento - California To Have Open Primaries in 2012

The coalition that put Prop 14 on the ballot and won it on the ground speaks in celebration today in Sacramento.




Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado said Prop 14 passing is a "game changer." He said we need a government that is accountable to the people not the party bosses.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said that this will take power away from the parties and put it in the hands of the people, which is what we wanted to do. He said we want to have "public servants not party servants" and that Prop 14 will help get rid o f partisan gridlock.

David Pacheco of AARP said "This is a big deal!" He said Prop 14 will end party pandering to their narrow ideological bases, so that elected officials will be able to work together better and restore faith in our government.

Joyce Dattner, Chair of IndependentVoice.org, thanked Governor Schwarzenegger and Lt. Governor Maldonado for standing with the outsiders (the 3.4 million independents in California) to take on the party insiders. "This is a game changing coalition," she said. [IndependentVoice.org's full statement is printed below.]


Allan Zaremberg, President/CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of California said that in yesterday's primary, voter turnout was around 30% -- and that vote, as in most primaries, determined most of this elections elected officials. "That's not democracy," he said. Prop 14 will allow a majority of voters to turn out in the primary.

Daniel Howle, California Independent Voter Project, said Prop 14 will level the playing field for independent voters. CIVP drafted the referendum and was prepared to petition to get it on the ballot.

____________________________________

Statement by IndependentVoice.Org
Proposition 14 Victory Press Conference
Sacramento, CA
June 9, 2010
(Statement delivered by Joyce Dattner, Chair of IndependentVoice.Org, who appeared with Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado and Governor Schwarzenegger in Sacramento at the Proposition 14 Victory Press Conference. Press contact: Jason Olson 917-658-9885)

Today is California’s Independents Day!

Over two million voters cast a “Yes” vote for Proposition 14 and against partisan politics! As a result, the 3.4 million Decline to State independent voters will have equal access to our political process. At the rate voters are choosing to become independents here in California, we expect to be over the four million mark by our next election cycle.

Yesterday, the voters of California chose progressive political reform over status quo partisanship. Proposition 14 passed by the largest margin for a political reform initiative in more than a dozen years. The voters made a clear and decisive statement that the way to fix broken government is to expand democracy, contain the control exercised by political parties, and give greater power to the people. I want to thank the independent voters and organizations across the country that aided us in our fight to expand our democracy, most especially our national ally, IndependentVoting.org. Of course, I want to thank Governor Schwarzenegger and Lt. Governor Maldonado for standing with the outsiders to take on the party insiders. This is a game changing coalition.

Elected officials and candidates should take note: There is a new political force in California. I highly recommend you go to our website at IndependentVoice.Org and start reading up on the issues of interest to independent voters. For as diverse a group as we are, we’re unified behind the belief that we must democratize our political process so that the people – not the parties and special interests – determine the politics and policy of our state and our country. But don’t wait too long, because the next election will be here soon. And 3.4 million independents want to know where you stand on the independents’ political reform agenda.

Finally, a word about the national implications of Prop 14. California is a bell-weather state, and our victory for open primaries and progressive democratic reform here must be used to break the hold of partisanship everywhere in America. I want to extend a direct invitation to Governor Schwarzenegger, Lt. Gov. Maldonado and the rest of our coalition partners to join with us in extending this effort nationally. And a special message to our independent friends across the country who are fighting – as we speak – to achieve or to protect open primaries and non-partisan elections in Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, and New York City: Help is on the way!

IndependentVoice.Org is a non-profit organizing California’s 3.4 million independent voters to change politics. IndependentVoice.Org is part of the national independent movement, and has been involved in fights for Open Primaries (Prop 14, Prop 62 in 2004) and Redistricting Reform (Prop 11 passed in 2008, Prop 77 in 2005, and the upcoming “Voters First Act” on the November 2010 ballot).

______________________________________

In addition, Jackie Salit, President – IndependentVoting.org, issued the following statement on the passage of Prop 14:

“Yesterday, California voters decisively passed Proposition 14, which creates a nonpartisan primary system across the state. Though the political parties – major and minor – opposed the measure, the voters defied the partisan establishment and gave Prop 14 54% of the vote. This is the biggest margin for a political reform initiative in California in over a dozen years. And it means the state’s 3.4 million independents can participate in every round of voting. Congratulations California! Now it’s New York City’s turn. We’re saddled with a closed primary system that locks out nearly one million independent voters. The message of California is that it’s time to put political calculus aside, to put nonpartisans on the ballot, and to let the voters decide what kind of electoral system they want to have.”

Jackie Salit is the President of IndependentVoting.org, a national association of independent voters with organization in 40 states. In addition, she ran Mike Bloomberg’s ’01, ’05 and ’09 mayoral campaigns on the Independence Party line. Press contact: Sarah Lyons, 212-962-1824

Governor Schwarzenegger To Join Open Primary Supporters To Urge A 'Yes' Vote On Reform Measure

 

Proposition 14 gives equal access to the same ballot for all and makes politicians accountable to voters instead of political insiders 

 

 

Who:          Governor Schwarzenegger

                   Lt. Governor Maldonado 

                   Sam Thomas, AARP California  

                   Royce D'Orazio, IndependentVoice.Org 

 

When:        June 8, 2010, Primary Election Day

                   9 a.m. PST

 

 Where:      Kenter Canyon Elementary School (200 feet from polling site) 

                   645 North Kenter Avenue, Los Angeles, CA‎ 90049  

Independents Advance Structural Reforms: Open Primaries and Nonpartisan Elections

OPEN PRIMARIES

• W.Va. early voting up from 2006 primary (by Lawrence Messina, Charleston Daily Mail) Twice as many Democrats voted early as Republicans, roughly in keeping with the relative sizes of the two major parties. Both have opened their primaries to unaffiliated voters. About 3,000 people who belong to neither major party cast early primary ballots, as did six members of the state's Mountain Party.
• Broken system - Elections should replace conventions (Salt Lake City Tribune Editorial) ...in the case of any candidate who is chewed up or spit out by Utah's convention meat grinders, can we truly say that the people have spoken? In the 43 states where the political parties value the input of all members and hold direct or open primary elections to select candidates for statewide offices, the answer would be an unequivocal "yes."
• Feminist Candidate Drops Out of Race for Stupak Seat (Ms. Magazine) "I hope that in the future the Party will reject this interference and insist on an open primary allowing voters to choose the candidate who represents their values."
• Stupak foe Saltonstall withdraws (By JESSICA TAYLOR, Politico)

PROP 14

• KQED Radio Makes Maldonado-Winger Debate on Prop. 14 Available (Ballot Access News) with link to audio
• Editorial: IJ's choices for state propositions (Marin Independent Journal) Yes on 14
• Op-ed: Clinton's June Election Round Up (Clinton Killian, The Oakbook) Yes on 14

COLORADO

• Question and Answer with Rep. Kathleen Curry of Gunnison (By Jessica Fender The Denver Post ) Unaffiliated Rep. Kathleen Curry made waves this year by leaving the Democratic party
• Breakaway Colo. legislator Curry makes strong point: Don't fence me in (By Jessica Fender, The Denver Post)

NYC CHARTER REVISION

• NYC Voters Could Change Balance of Power - Charter review commission to look at term limits among other issues (By SARA KUGLER, NBC New York) The billionaire Republican-turned-independent spent $7.5 million of his own money on a failed 2003 ballot measure that would have imposed nonpartisan elections in city races. He has said repeatedly since then he still wants nonpartisan contests in New York.
• Nonpartisan elections being examined by NYC Charter Revision Panel (SI Advance) The billionaire Republican-turned-independent spent $7.5 million of his own money on a failed 2003 ballot measure that would have imposed nonpartisan elections in city races. He has said repeatedly since then he still wants nonpartisan contests in New York. 
• Term Limits & Land Use Top Charter Revision List (By Jarrett Murphy, City Limits)
• Divide in the Charter Commission? (Gotham Gazette/Wonkster)

NEW YORK

• Cuomo the WFP-killer? (NY Post)
• Bloomberg: Democratic State Sen. Johnson Cares About Kids (BY CELESTE KATZ, Daily News/Daily Politics)
• New York Voters Don't Want George Pataki to Run for President (By Jordan Heller, DNAinfo News Editor) 69 percent of independent voters don't want him to run.

LAST WORD

• Elena Kagan Will Probably Be Good on Ballot Access (Ballot Access News)

Abel Maldonado Stumps for California Open Primary Initiative Proposition 14 on the Colbert Report 4/29/10

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
California's Proposition 14 - Abel Maldonado
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