Category Archives: political parties

“America’s electoral system gives the Republicans advantages over Democrats”

July 13, 2018, 7:54 ampolitical partiesDan Tokaji

The Economist: America’s various disproportional representations are the result of winner-takes-all voting and a two-party system where party allegiance and geography have become surprisingly highly correlated. Places where people live close together vote Democratic, places where they live farther… Continue reading

“The needs of California voters — not the parties — must be heeded”

June 8, 2018, 5:11 pmpolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

Dan Howle and Rob Richie oped in the SD Union-Tribune: We, the Independent Voter Project and FairVote, have and continue to have our different perspectives and opinions about what is the “best” way to conduct our elections. But at a… Continue reading

“How California can keep advantages of the top two primary while curing its defects”

June 8, 2018, 4:50 pmpolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

Richard Winger oped in San Diego Union-Tribune.

Judge Tymkovich, in Concurrence to Denial of En Banc Rehearing in Utah Political Party Case, Calls on SCOTUS to Revisit Political Party Regulation

June 8, 2018, 3:20 pmpolitical parties, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Tenth Circuit Chief Judge Timothy Tymkovich, who regularly teaches election law (and has used our casebook), wrote this interesting statement today concurring in the denial of rehearing en banc in the Utah Republican Party case: I concur in the court’s… Continue reading

“House Dems seethe over superdelegates plan”

June 7, 2018, 8:14 ampolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

Politico: The controversial issue of “superdelegates” and their future in the Democratic Party led to an angry confrontation on Tuesday night between Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez and House Democrats, according to several lawmakers. But the members’ angst may… Continue reading

“California’s major political parties feared the top-two primary but emerged as powerful as before”

June 6, 2018, 7:29 ampolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

John Myers for LAT: Gamesmanship was everywhere. Could a feared opponent be shut out of a spot on the fall ballot? Might a political party’s leaders convince some hopefuls in crowded races to step aside and thus avoid splitting the… Continue reading

“California’s primary system flummoxes Democrats, GOP”

June 5, 2018, 6:18 pmpolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

Reid Wilson reports for The Hill.

“California’s open primaries are a cautionary tale about political reform”

June 2, 2018, 9:26 pmpolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

Dan Balz: Eight years ago, California voters approved a ballot initiative establishing a new open primary system. The new system called for primary contests in which all candidates from all parties would be listed on the same ballot. The top… Continue reading

“Democrats Go All-Out to Avoid Disaster in California House Races”

May 26, 2018, 11:47 ampolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

NYT: With so many Democrats running, the party’s fear is that the vote will be splintered, allowing Republicans — who have fewer candidates — to dominate some primaries. The party and allied groups are spending more than $4 million on… Continue reading

“California’s ‘Top-Two’ Primary: Here’s How It All Works”

May 25, 2018, 7:59 ampolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

NYT: It was supposed to be a cutting-edge election reform, a way to take the party out of politics: an open primary in which labels like Republican and Democratic were tossed out and candidates were chosen, presumably, on their merits.… Continue reading

“House: Democrats Risk Disaster in California’s Top Two Primaries”

May 3, 2018, 4:42 pmpolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

David Wasserman for the Cook Political Report: Republicans badly need a few lucky breaks to hold their House majority in November. So far in 2018, it’s been the opposite story — from an unfriendly new Pennsylvania map to Speaker Paul… Continue reading

“Fearing Chaos, National Democrats Plunge Into Midterm Primary Fights”

April 22, 2018, 9:00 pmpolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

Alex Burns in the NYT: But in some areas, Democratic leaders have concluded it is worth enduring backlash to help a prized recruit or tame a chaotic primary field. They are moving most aggressively in California, where the state’s … Continue reading

“California’s free-for-all primary election rules could surprise everyone in 2018 … again”

March 19, 2018, 8:20 ampolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

John Myers for the LAT: The California primary that’s now less than three months away promises to be the system’s most important test, and possibly its most controversial. Although Democrats have largely consolidated their power behind just a few formidable… Continue reading