Category Archives: campaigns

“Bring Back The Electoral College — For Real”

June 14, 2016, 7:06 amcampaigns, electoral collegeRick Hasen

Ed Zelinsky: The conventional wisdom is that an independent candidate must run to provide an alternative to the major parties’ candidates. I instead suggest another course: Bring back the Electoral College as the active chooser of the 45th president. We… Continue reading

New Montana Lawsuit Attacks Ban on False Speech by Judicial Candidates

June 13, 2016, 7:21 amcampaigns, judicial electionsRick Hasen

Read the motion for a preliminary injunction.

Could Republican Donor Strike Lead Trump to Take Public Financing?

June 13, 2016, 6:52 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

I doubt it, but here’s Politico: Still, many are struggling to see a clear path forward. Zwick noted that Trump is far behind where Romney was in the donor chase at this point four years ago. One option, he said,… Continue reading

“Trump doesn’t have a national campaign. So the GOP is trying to run one for him.”

June 10, 2016, 7:35 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Matea Gold for WaPo: Trump’s failure to build a truly national campaign has left it to the GOP to run one on his behalf, while also trying to extinguish the regular political brush fires set off by the unpredictable candidate.… Continue reading

“Anti-Trump Republicans seek last-ditch ‘delegate revolt'”

June 10, 2016, 7:31 amcampaigns, political parties, primariesRick Hasen

Tal Koppan reports for CNN.

“There Are More White Voters Than People Think. That’s Good News for Trump.”

June 9, 2016, 8:26 amcampaigns, votingRick Hasen

Tour de force from Nate Cohn of NYT’s The UpShot: One of the biggest reasons Donald Trump is considered to be a long shot to win the presidency is the diversity of the country. As Joe Scarborough of MSNBC put … Continue reading

“Senate Democrats to Release a Policy Agenda”

June 9, 2016, 6:52 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: One measure would require organizations spending money in elections, including “super PACs,” to disclose donors who give $10,000 or more during an election cycle. Another would require all candidates for federal office to report campaign contributions… Continue reading

“Donald Trump’s got (political) money problems”

June 8, 2016, 8:50 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

WaPo: Trump doesn’t yet seem to get how the primary differs from the November contest that’s just started. He adapted to some degree in order to win the nomination. It’s unlikely, though, that the low-cost style of campaigning he… Continue reading

“Cuomo Seeks Fixes to ‘Rampant’ Problems in New York’s Campaign Contribution System”

June 8, 2016, 8:46 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: With little movement on state ethics laws, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced a late push in the legislative session on Wednesday to tighten restrictions on election laws governing money given to candidates through so-called independent expenditure committees. In… Continue reading

CA Gov. Brown to Allow Citizens United Advisory Measure to Go on Ballot without His Signature

June 8, 2016, 5:00 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Here’s the announcement. See my earlier LA Times oped on why I might vote for this misguided ballot measure if it is on the ballot.

“Trump Says ‘No Reason’ to Raise $1 Billion for Campaign”

June 8, 2016, 12:21 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Bloomberg: Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump distanced himself from his own fundraising estimate of $1 billion, refusing to commit to collecting even half that amount, and saying his campaign didn’t need much money to win the White House.… Continue reading

US Senate Race Could Be First CA Statewide Race with No Republican on Election Ballot

June 7, 2016, 9:52 pmcampaigns, political parties, primariesRick Hasen

And very big chance for U.S. Senate to have first African-American woman in U.S. Senate in generation. LAT: California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris was declared the winner of the primary for the state’s open seat U.S. Senate race on… Continue reading

“California: Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge facing recall threats”

June 7, 2016, 8:15 pmcampaigns, recall electionsRick Hasen

Recall Elections Blog: Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky is facing a threatened recall over his sentencing of a Stanford University swimmer to a six month jail for rape. Already, a Stanford law professor is suggesting she will… Continue reading

“he New Tyranny: A Preface to the 2016 Elections in the United States”

June 7, 2016, 8:00 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Tim Kuhner in the World Financial Review: Democracy in the United States has been replaced by a rival form of government premised upon the power of wealth. Not to be confused with mere corruption, plutocracy is an official system of… Continue reading