from Ballot Access News
California Likely to Hold 3-Party Special Legislative
Election on January 12, 2010
The California Assembly seat, 72nd district, is currently vacant. The district is in northern Orange County and is considered safely Republican. On November 17, 2009, voters will all receive a blanket primary ballot that includes three Republicans, one Democrat, and one Green. The Republican candidates are fiercely attacking each other and it is extremely unlikely that any one candidate will receive as much as 50% of the vote. So, it is virtually certain that there will be a second election on January 12, 2010, with the top vote-getter from each party on that ballot. The Green Party candidate is Jane Rands, a systems engineer. See this story about the campaign.
Actually I have found the results. She did fairly well with 6.1% of the vote: http://www.ocvote.com/live/72ndgen/results.htm
So how did she do?
We here at Third Party Revolution endorse Jane Rands in her campaign for California’s 72nd Assembly Seat, along with many other third party and independent candidates seeking public offices nationwide, ranging from local to federal levels.
On that issue, I think the size of the House should be increased, to where each district has around 350,000 people. That way, it might be a little easier for a third party candidate to be viable.
There are limits on the size of legislative body that will still allow reasonable time for representatives to present views in debate on issues. Too big and all representatives will not have an opportunity to effectively present ideas in debate. That does not increase representation in the legislative process.
The 435 members of The US House of Representatives probably represent the upper limit of what can be an effective deliberative body. That said there is room for expansion in California.
In Pennsylvania the House has 203 members and the Senate 50, but it is set up very poorly. Both chambers are based on population, so you have these overlapping election districts (all badly gerrymandered). Each Representative has about 60,000 constituents and each senator has about 250,000 constituents. I think it would make more sense to have one senator from each county in the senate and representatives in the house with districts based on population.
So if someone gets over 50% in this primary vote, is the election over?
Morgen,
While it may be easier to win a state legislative race than to win statewide, it’s very hard to win in California. There are only 80 seats in the Assembly and 40 seats in the Senate, compared to the 53 seats that California holds in the House of Representatives. Virginia has 100 seats in the House of Delegates and 40 seats in the Senate; its population is roughly one-fifth of California’s. I hope that California drastically increases the size of its legislature.
Morgan Brykein, assuming the Green party provides some campaign support for this candidate, do you think an influx of Green AND Libertarian activists from all over starting Jan. 2 could provide an effective campaigm?
The state legislature is the easiest state-level position for a third party candidate to get into. All they need is an effective campaign.
@7
Lol…ok
tiradefaction,with politics as usual a Green couldn’t win. Makes the point even better!
@5
I live in OC, and I don’t see a Green really winning here (anytime soon). We are home of the John Birch society after all….
Oh, this is really good! This is a clear opportunity for a parallel PLAS Experiment in California in January! This is a clearly Republican district? !!!!!!!!!!!Massachusetts is a clearly Democratic state!!!!!!Now, if a Libertarian were to win in democratic liberal Massachusetts in January & a Green were to win in CA republican district in January, something is A FOOT! I say On Jan 2, cold weather loving Green & Libertarian activists go to Massachusetts & warm weather loving activists go to CA & CAMPAIGN! till Jan 19 & 12 respectively. The PLAS Experiment is ON BOTH COASTS!
Correction “Maybe I will, if I end up liking her as a candidate, and a campaigner , and am able”.
Maybe I will, I’ll have to check it out though.
You could still volunteer for her if you you’re interested.
Unfortunately I’m not in the 72nd district, as I’m in lower Orange County.
Don’t know much about Rands, but hope she can at least make an impact.