A SurveyUSA poll on the all-party primary for the special election in California’s 10th U.S. House District finds several alternative party candidates and write-in candidates, along with minor Democratic and Republican contenders, polling a combined four percent. However, the poll did not initially list the candidates, and the results posted online do not break down the alternative candidates’ support.
SurveyUSA “first asked voters who they would vote for, including by name four Democrats and four Republicans SurveyUSA arbitraged to have the best chance of advancing, and a ninth choice for ’some other candidate.’ Those choosing to vote for ’some other candidate’ were then read by name the remaining six candidates and given a seventh choice for selecting a write-in candidate.” (Some of the “some other candidate” options were minor Democratic and Republican contenders.)
Three candidates — the top Democratic, Republican, and alternative party finishers — in the September 1 primary will advance to a November general election. The ballot-qualified alternative candidates from alternative parties are Jeremy Cloward (Green), Jerry Denham (American Independent), and Mary McIlroy (Peace and Freedom). Tiffany Attwood is also running as a write-in candidate.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Third Party Revolution // Aug 14, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Is it possible for Tiffany Attwood to get on the ballot in the runoff is she manages to get a lot of votes?
2 Peter Orvetti // Aug 14, 2009 at 9:20 pm
That’s a good question. I believe the top finisher from neither major party will advance to the general election.
3 Third Party Revolution // Aug 14, 2009 at 10:00 pm
I remembered in the special election in which Christopher Agrella ran that if an independent write-in candidate managed to get 500 votes and still there wasn’t a winner, then he or she would advance to the runoffs and appear on the ballot.
4 Michael Seebeck // Aug 15, 2009 at 1:59 am
TPR, you remember badly.
Chris was the Libertarian candidate, and he branded himself as both independent (in reference to party directives) and Libertarian.
He advanced to the run-off because he had no party opponent in the primary and because no candidate got 50%+1. There were no independent write-ins in that race.
5 Michael Seebeck // Aug 15, 2009 at 2:05 am
The post above is also incorrect.
If no candidate gets 50%+1 in the special Sep. 1 primary, the top vote-getters from each party advance to the run-off (not the top D, R, and third party candidate as the post states).
So for the run-off, if there is one, there will be winner of the 4 Democrats, the winner of the 6 Republicans, and the unopposed Green, P&F, and AIP candidates–5 in all.
6 Peter Orvetti // Aug 15, 2009 at 2:12 am
According to the SurveyUSA poll, “The top finishing Democrat, the top finishing Republican, and one third-party candidate will appear on the November general election ballot.” This was not my understanding of the California system, but I deferred to the source material.
7 Third Party Revolution // Aug 18, 2009 at 12:28 pm
I know that Mr. Agrella ran with the LP and was on the ballot. I also remembered that the SWP also had a candidate running in that election as a write-in.
Leave a Comment