I started this entry earlier, but the big news today is -- late afternoon -- the announcement that Kamala Harris will be Biden's running mate. Good choice, and a pretty safe, expected choice. There was some suggestion Susan Rice would get the nod. Her diversity is seen by having an Indian mother (deceased), Jamaican father and Jewish husband. The VP choice is of particular note since there is more likelihood that at most the main candidate will serve one term. We also have the first black woman candidate on a major ticket, plus the first time someone west of Texas is on the Democratic ticket (at least once, a Californian was on the Republican ticket). Let's win this thing.
Though luckily, Kayne West skullduggery drama aside (maybe), they probably won't matter (knock on wood), there are third parties involved in the election. The last update missed an update in that area: the vice presidential candidate of the Peace & Freedom Party (California) had to be replaced due to illness. Now, I'm unsure what exactly are the tasks of a vice presidential candidate in a small third party that requires replacement of a "name" like Leonard Peltier (Native American activist). Perhaps, it is as much as a public statement of his health and needs in prison.
Warren is not on the ballot, so the last primary is between Biden, Sanders, Gabbard and uncommitted on the Democratic side. Perennial candidate Rocky De La Fuente and uncommitted are the alternatives to Trump. Item among the Republican candidates in a House race: "Thomas Gilmer was arrested Monday night in connection with a “possible domestic assault,” the police said. He ended his campaign but could still win a spot on the November ballot." Also, we won't have final results: "Mail-in absentee ballots postmarked by August 11 will be accepted by Connecticut towns until Thursday. Vote tabulation and reporting will continue beyond election night." The Democratic Convention starts next Monday.
[I was told that Warren actually reached out and got her name taken off the Connecticut ballot, perhaps particularly concerned about a New England state. I am not aware of this done anywhere else though people might not do paperwork for states in many cases. Connecticut was originally scheduled in late April so it is not surprising that the others are not on it.]
We have two thirds of the results this post-election morning but a sliver more than fifteen percent (split three ways, Sanders with 12%) voted non-Biden. If this holds, Sanders will only get delegates if he won in a particular district (which is possible -- in one state, Sanders had a single delegate). Trump at this point has less than 80% (Fuente has 7%, uncommitted the rest), which would be a record, beating out Delaware. Let's see how that holds up -- respect Republicans who actually voice their dissent. I will check the delegate count on the first day of the virtual convention.
The most important thing for our purposes, this focused on presidential primaries, is Connecticut's postponed presidential primary. But, along with Hawaii (Saturday), Minnesota, Vermont and Wisconsin, it also has congressional primaries. And, Georgia would have a run-off as necessary (a few are). Hawaii is notable as voting entirely by mail.* Also, Tulsi Gabbard did not run for re-election, thus Gabbard haters will be happy to know that a new person (probably Democratic, surely native Hawaiian, since both parties have one running) will fill the seat in January. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico also had a primary (non-presidential) and had issues. How about giving them the right to vote for President?
(As usual, there are a variety of local elections that get much less national attention, but remain important for the locals. The one case that stands out: The Squad will likely remain together with Rep. Omar, like AOC and Tlaib, winner her primary last night. She is controversial enough to have an opponent with nearly 40% of the vote. The final member from MA is the least controversial of the bunch, so even though her primary is not here yet, I think it is safe enough to say that. Also, on the other end of the ideological divide, this woman won in Georgia. They must be so proud.)
As an aside, it looks like we will have a re-match in my city council district, the original guy coming in from the assembly [which pays less!] to deprive a local POC woman the slot. I was annoyed that he resigned his assembly slot for what to me looked like monetary reasons though can't prove it. Later on, saw that he overall is a conservative blah sort in the mind of various people too.
It annoyed me too that it seemed basically to blanket the neighborhoods around here with campaign signs while she had very few, losing by a few hundred votes in what seems liked a winnable election. Yes, that is partially on the opponents, but still seems a lousy way to select someone. His slot in the assembly did go to a POC woman that seems to be doing fairly well, if not quite as activist as Biaggi. Next year will be an important election, including a new mayor given the current one is a term limited. Doesn't seem like there is a presumptive favorite yet.
There is also a bit of relevant SCOTUS news: "For the fifth time this year, the Supreme Court set aside a lower-court order that would have altered state election rules in response to the coronavirus pandemic." RBG and Sotomayor dissented without opinion. At this point, this sort of thing is expected, but the "shadow docket" does not clearly explain why it should be done. Some "message" will be sent, to some degree, but whole affair is dubious on procedural and substantive grounds.
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* The other states with that vote entirely by mail being Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Utah. They are all not quite typical, which should factor in for those a tad too gung ho for everyone to follow. Let it be noted that the general policy here is to allow people to drop votes off as well, including in special drop boxes, so it isn't really totally by mail. But, they don't have the usual same day polling places deal.
Though luckily, Kayne West skullduggery drama aside (maybe), they probably won't matter (knock on wood), there are third parties involved in the election. The last update missed an update in that area: the vice presidential candidate of the Peace & Freedom Party (California) had to be replaced due to illness. Now, I'm unsure what exactly are the tasks of a vice presidential candidate in a small third party that requires replacement of a "name" like Leonard Peltier (Native American activist). Perhaps, it is as much as a public statement of his health and needs in prison.
Warren is not on the ballot, so the last primary is between Biden, Sanders, Gabbard and uncommitted on the Democratic side. Perennial candidate Rocky De La Fuente and uncommitted are the alternatives to Trump. Item among the Republican candidates in a House race: "Thomas Gilmer was arrested Monday night in connection with a “possible domestic assault,” the police said. He ended his campaign but could still win a spot on the November ballot." Also, we won't have final results: "Mail-in absentee ballots postmarked by August 11 will be accepted by Connecticut towns until Thursday. Vote tabulation and reporting will continue beyond election night." The Democratic Convention starts next Monday.
[I was told that Warren actually reached out and got her name taken off the Connecticut ballot, perhaps particularly concerned about a New England state. I am not aware of this done anywhere else though people might not do paperwork for states in many cases. Connecticut was originally scheduled in late April so it is not surprising that the others are not on it.]
We have two thirds of the results this post-election morning but a sliver more than fifteen percent (split three ways, Sanders with 12%) voted non-Biden. If this holds, Sanders will only get delegates if he won in a particular district (which is possible -- in one state, Sanders had a single delegate). Trump at this point has less than 80% (Fuente has 7%, uncommitted the rest), which would be a record, beating out Delaware. Let's see how that holds up -- respect Republicans who actually voice their dissent. I will check the delegate count on the first day of the virtual convention.
The most important thing for our purposes, this focused on presidential primaries, is Connecticut's postponed presidential primary. But, along with Hawaii (Saturday), Minnesota, Vermont and Wisconsin, it also has congressional primaries. And, Georgia would have a run-off as necessary (a few are). Hawaii is notable as voting entirely by mail.* Also, Tulsi Gabbard did not run for re-election, thus Gabbard haters will be happy to know that a new person (probably Democratic, surely native Hawaiian, since both parties have one running) will fill the seat in January. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico also had a primary (non-presidential) and had issues. How about giving them the right to vote for President?
(As usual, there are a variety of local elections that get much less national attention, but remain important for the locals. The one case that stands out: The Squad will likely remain together with Rep. Omar, like AOC and Tlaib, winner her primary last night. She is controversial enough to have an opponent with nearly 40% of the vote. The final member from MA is the least controversial of the bunch, so even though her primary is not here yet, I think it is safe enough to say that. Also, on the other end of the ideological divide, this woman won in Georgia. They must be so proud.)
As an aside, it looks like we will have a re-match in my city council district, the original guy coming in from the assembly [which pays less!] to deprive a local POC woman the slot. I was annoyed that he resigned his assembly slot for what to me looked like monetary reasons though can't prove it. Later on, saw that he overall is a conservative blah sort in the mind of various people too.
It annoyed me too that it seemed basically to blanket the neighborhoods around here with campaign signs while she had very few, losing by a few hundred votes in what seems liked a winnable election. Yes, that is partially on the opponents, but still seems a lousy way to select someone. His slot in the assembly did go to a POC woman that seems to be doing fairly well, if not quite as activist as Biaggi. Next year will be an important election, including a new mayor given the current one is a term limited. Doesn't seem like there is a presumptive favorite yet.
There is also a bit of relevant SCOTUS news: "For the fifth time this year, the Supreme Court set aside a lower-court order that would have altered state election rules in response to the coronavirus pandemic." RBG and Sotomayor dissented without opinion. At this point, this sort of thing is expected, but the "shadow docket" does not clearly explain why it should be done. Some "message" will be sent, to some degree, but whole affair is dubious on procedural and substantive grounds.
---
* The other states with that vote entirely by mail being Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Utah. They are all not quite typical, which should factor in for those a tad too gung ho for everyone to follow. Let it be noted that the general policy here is to allow people to drop votes off as well, including in special drop boxes, so it isn't really totally by mail. But, they don't have the usual same day polling places deal.
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