IA: "Unusually High Share" of Votes for Third Party Candidates in 2010

From Bleeding Heartland:

This summer, the Libertarian Party in Iowa embarked on a "10 percent strategy," hoping to win 2 percent of the vote for governor in order to secure major-party status in 2012. Iowa lacks a tradition of strong third-party voting like our neighbor to the north, and the unofficial results indicate that no alternative to Terry Branstad and Chet Culver cleared the 2 percent threshold in the governor's race. Iowa Party candidate Jonathan Narcisse came closer to that mark than Libertarian Eric Cooper.

Although no third party is set up to have a larger statewide impact in 2012, minor party candidates received an unusually high share of the vote in some areas. In a few races, the votes for third-party candidates exceeded the difference between the Democrat and the Republican. . . .

Read the rest for the full rundown.  

Fairness Among Generations At Core of Need for Fiscal Sanity

Cross posted at Rise of the Center

The Concord Center’s Fiscal Solutions Tour has been bumping around the country for the last month and a half or so, bringing common sense ideas on how we can save ourselves from financial ruin over the next generation or so. At the Tour’s most recent stop, in Philadelphia, the crux of the issue was focused on.

Every dollar we borrow might as well be two dollars (more likely even more than that, if the problem persists and compound interest is able to go to work on even bigger mountains of debt) out of the pockets of your kids, and their children. The image of stealing candy from a baby, or perhaps taking money out of a child’s piggy bank, is the most appropriate I can think of.

They cannot defend themselves, and unless we do, they will come into the workforce with taxes far higher than anything this country has ever seen, a severely cut military, a much weaker social safety net and little to no flexibility in looking for ways to adapt to the complications that the future will assuredly bring.

We needed to start working on this twenty years ago… but the best time to start is now since that didn’t happen. Its not like we haven’t known this was coming. When the President’s bipartisan commission on fiscal responsibility and reform comes out with their report, we need to form the core of the groundswell that forces our politicians to heed those recommendations like they did the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations. We need to start heeding the wise words of President Kennedy, caring more about what we can do for the country, rather than selfishly asking the federal government to do more for us than we are willing to pay for.

We need to unite around our greater angels, instead of the increasingly short sighted partisans that have controlled DC for the last generation.

Read more of Solomon's work at Rise of the Center

CO: Tancredo Considers Declaring his Political Independence from Party

From the Denver Post:

"I went to dinner at 6 o'clock and kept thinking 'This is really going to work,' " Tancredo said in an interview with The Denver Post on Thursday. "And of course it didn't. I'm content in the fact that it's part of God's plan. I just wish he wouldn't tease me so much."

Tancredo, the former GOP congressman who switched to a third party to run for governor, lost Tuesday to Democrat John Hickenlooper 51 percent to 37 percent, with Republican Dan Maes collecting 11 percent of the vote. . . .

And his party affiliation? "We'll see where it goes. Unless there is some purpose, I don't know if I will go back to Republican. I'm not sure I will stay with ACP either," he said. "Maybe I will become an independent. It's a lot of heavy stuff to think about."

2010 Elections Wrap-Up

The 2010 elections were a mixed bag for the third party and independent political movement.  Public discontent with the Democratic and Republican parties undoubtedly raised the profiles of third party and independent candidates for office across the country and at all levels of government.  Yet, that discontent did not translate into deep and widespread support for third party and independent alternatives to the false choice offered by the Democratic and Republican parties.  At the same time, however, there were quite a few notable successes:

• Rhode Island elected its first Independent governor, Lincoln Chafee.  
• In Maine, Eliot Cutler further demonstrated the viability of Independent politics, besting his Democratic rival for second place in a contest which the Independent ultimately lost by only a few percentage points. 
• In Colorado, Tom Tancredo's late entrance into the gubernatorial race significantly raised the national profile of the Constitution Party, and demonstrated the viability of third party politics, besting his Republican rival for second place in the race.
• Third parties gained or retained ballot access in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, and Wisconsin.  See this preliminary report at Ballot Access News.
• The Vermont Progressive Party has likely won seven seats to the state legislature.  
• Over 1,000,000 votes were cast for Libertarian candidates for US House across the country.
• Green Party candidates won a number of elections for local offices across the country. 
• Candidates of the Independent American Party of Nevada won four races for local offices.

I launched Third Party and Independent Daily at the beginning of this year in the expectation that 2010 would be an historic year for third party and independent politics in the United States.  And, as numerous studies have shown, it was.  But we still have a long way to go.

As a final note, I'd like to thank all of TPID's contributors for their many posts over the course of the year.  Be sure to check out their respective sites linked in the sidebar if you haven't already!  I would also like to thank the numerous candidates who took the time to respond to requests for comments or  interviews, including Dan La Botz, Eliot Cutler, Jake Towne, Daniel Reale, Jaimes Brown, and Darcy Richardson.  And, of course, many thanks to TPID's friends and readers across the country and throughout the third party and independent blogosphere!

MA-Gov: Republican Credits Independent for Loss

From the Boston Herald:

Republican Charlie Baker, in his first public comments since Election Day, blamed Treasurer Tim Cahill and fizzling GOP enthusiasm for his defeat in an e-mail to supporters in which he also expressed sadness for failing to deliver a victory. . . .  Baker finished 8 points behind Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick — the exact share of the vote the independent Cahill garnered. “A third-party candidate pulling 8 percent made our already narrow window that much narrower,” Baker wrote.

PA-15: Jake Towne Receives 8% Support in Independent Bid for US House

From Jake Towne:

From the not-yet-100%-official results from the state elections board, 15,241 votes were cast in favor of freedom in the district yesterday, for about 8% of the total.  I suppose the bad news (and sorry to be blunt) is this means 92% of the votes were cast for more debt, war, taxes and reckless government spending.

The volunteers have all my thanks, for without them, there would simply be no campaign.  Close to 70 volunteers staffed many of the major polling stations for the day, and at most reported the GOP or Dem workers  were not present – or got cold or left after several hours.  Also, many thanks to the owner of Pies On Pizzeria in Catasauqua for holding the Victory Party, the place was packed!  I am very humbled by all the support from voters, volunteers, and the 1,019+ donors who backed the campaign.  You are all my heroes/heroines.

NY: Howie Hakwins Vows to Continue Fight for Progressive Agenda and Green New Deal

From Independent Political Report:

“We won the ballot line. Now we aim to win our Green New Deal policies for New York State,” Howie Hawkins said Friday, reflecting on the next steps for the Green Party after it passed the 50,000 votes for Governor threshold needed to secure a ballot line in New York for the next four years. . . .


“We come out of this election much stronger than we went into it. We’re bigger, better organized, and have new allies in the labor, community, peace, and environmental movements. We now plan to keep organizing, mobilizing, and pushing for a Green New Deal between now and the next state legislative elections in the 2012 elections. We will also be working at the national level on bringing our troops home, cutting the military budget, immigrant rights, protecting social security and curtailing climate change,” Hawkins said.

“Cuomo never told the voters of New York State how he intends to resolve the state budget deficit. Our plan was to make the wealthy pay their fair share, including stopping the rebate of $16 billion to Wall Street speculators. When Cuomo’s budget comes out in January, with massive cuts in education, health care, the environment, jobs and human services, the Greens will be helping to lead the protests,” said Hawkins. “And we intend to push Cuomo to deliver on the issues of ethics and campaign finance reforms, same-sex marriage, closing the Indian Point nuclear plant, and nonpartisan redistricting.”

Where to go for election results covering third party candidates?

Wondering where to go to find election results for third party candidates?  Check out Green Party Watch and Independent Political Report for a good start.

TX: Greens Win Ballot Access

From the Lone Star Report:

It's true that Texas Democrats did not file a candidate in the race for Comptroller, leaving only Republican incumbent Susan Combs versus two third-party candidates. But that doesn't mean this race doesn't represent a loss for Democrats (at least, in future elections). We previously reported that if the Green Party took more than 5 percent in this race, they would be in a position to chip away at close Democratic races in upcoming years -- the same as what Libertarians theoretically do to Republican candidates. Well, it seems that Green Party candidate for Comptroller Edward Lindsay took 6.34 percent (or 251,842 votes), which puts the Greens over the 5 percent rule required by Texas election law for the same automatic ballot placement that the Libertarians, Republicans and Democrats enjoy.

Childish Finger Pointing Begins on the Left – Can’t See Their Own Mistakes Led to Losses

As they hang their heads in shame for losing so badly a mere two years after earning wide majorities in both the House and Senate, the democrats’ new past time is flailing about, childishly looking far and wide for someone, some thing, anything to blame for their problems… other than their own mistakes of course. President Obama embodied this today, during his extended Q & A with reporters, clumsily dodging several questions that boiled down to asking him whether his and the democrats’ agenda was partially to blame for their losses.

Certainly the economy in general would be the one to point at if you insisted on grossly oversimplifying the issue, but its not as if the economy has gotten worse. Having watched the polls intently over the last couple years, the drops in support among the swing voters came during debates over actual legislation that the democrats were pushing, and usually passed, that were not popular. Losses to some extent were probably inevitable, but when you have near total control, and pass several major bills, trying to lay the blame on someone else for your popularity is clearly absurd.

If the Democrats don’t want to lose control of the Senate next time around, and potentially the White House, they better actually start listening to the swing voters in the center… and not just giving us lip service anymore. You’ve got a year.

Read more of Solomon's work at Rise of the Center

IAP elects 4 people to local offices, Janine Hansen comes in Second in 3-way State Assembly race

Independent Political Report

The Independent American Party of Nevada is the Nevada state affiliate of the Constitution Party. It has long been one of the most successful state parties for the Constitution Party. Yesterday they came up with a number of victories in county-wide partisan races. Cody Quirk reports, “the IAP elected John Lampros as White Pine County Commissioner (Seat 5), Falkon Finlinson as Public Administrator of Nye County, Arther Wehrmeister as Esmeralda County District Attorney, and re-elected Jackie Berg as Eureka County Clerk”.

The win in Eureka County was by a margin of only three votes, so expect there to be a recount in that race before results are finalized.

The most anticipated race for the IAP this year was Janine Hansen, who was running for State House. Hansen placed ahead of the Democratic nominee, but behind the Republican candidate, scoring 30.43%.

FL: Darcy Richardson Fires Last Salvo in Race for Gov, "Alex Sink Doesn't Get It"

From Uncovered Politics:

Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink has spent much of the autumn campaign trying to distance herself from President Obama. She did so at her own peril, says Darcy G. Richardson, economist Farid Khavari’s running mate for lieutenant governor.

“The fact of the matter is that there never was a real Democrat in this race,” said Richardson while campaigning in Jacksonville on Friday. “From the beginning, Alex Sink has tried to portray herself as a moderate Democrat when, in fact, she supports much of the national Republican agenda.”

Richardson, 54, pointed to Sink’s support for extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, those earning $250,000 or more — a position that puts her at odds with the Obama Administration while exposing her deeply-held Republican ideology.

Contrary to Sink’s misguided and pernicious logic, if the Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire for the nation’s wealthiest citizens, the vast majority of small businesses will be entirely unaffected, said Richardson, adding that, according to the IRS, less than 3 percent of tax returns reporting small-business income are filed by taxpayers in the top two income brackets — individuals earning $170,000 or families making $210,000 per year.

Eliminating the tax cuts will in no way prevent small businesses from creating the jobs that might lift our sagging economy, said Richardson. “Like Grover Norquist and other conservatives who shamelessly look out for the interests of the rich and well-connected, Alex Sink is propagating a myth.
“The vast majority of small businesses in Florida won‘t pay a penny more in federal taxes if the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy are eliminated,” said the independent candidate for lieutenant governor. “What they really need is credit and a state-owned bank willing and able to provide it.

“Alex Sink doesn’t get it,” he continued. “As Florida’s chief financial officer and a candidate for governor, one would think that she would have a better understanding of tax policy.”

Read the whole thing.  

Nader: Bloomberg Presidential Candidacy Would "Blow the Whole Two-Party System Apart"

From the Political Wire:

"I see a looming giant on the horizon for 2012... you better try to get an interview with him because if he runs, it is not only a three way race, he's going to blow the whole two party system apart."

-- Ralph Nader, in an interview on the Fox Business Network, on New York City Michael Bloomberg possibly running as an independent candidate for president.

NY: Green Party Wins Ballot Access

From the NY Green Party:

With 32% of precincts counted and more to come in, the New York State Green Party declared victory at 11:30 PM on election night. The votes cast for Howie Hawkins and Gloria Mattera will secure the Green Party a ballot line for the next four years, and represent support for the “Green New Deal.” Support for other candidates is also promising, with Comptroller candidate Julia Willebrand receiving 3% of the vote, and US Senate candidates Colia Clarke and Cecile Lawrence coming in third in their races respectively.

“This is the best showing ever for statewide Green Party candidates. It is the culmination of months of hard work on the part of many party members, and the candidates themselves. Voters are fed up with Democrats and Republicans taking their votes for granted, and are open to hearing ideas from a party not beholden to Wall St. and special interests. Howie Hawkins campaigned tirelessly to promote the idea of a Green New Deal, funded by progressive taxation on the wealthy, and using the stock transfer tax we already collect to fill the budget gap. Voters who heard the message understood that Howie’s platform made sense, and that it’s the austerity plans of Cuomo and Paladino that are nonsense,” said Peter LaVenia, co-chair of the NY State Green Party.

Rhode Island Elects State's First Independent Governor, Lincoln Chafee

From the Providence Journal:

Four years after losing his seat in the U.S. Senate, Lincoln D. Chafee has won his bid to become Rhode Island’s first independent governor, taking the office his father, the late John H. Chafee, held in the 1960s. He squeaked out a victory over Republican John F. Robitaille — after spending more than $1.6 million of his family’s personal fortune — in an election-night nail-biter in which Robitaille came within less than 100 votes of beating him as the votes were still rolling in. With an unknown number of provisional ballots yet to be counted, Chafee led Robitaille 36 percent to 34 percent, with fewer than 8,000 votes between them.

ME-Gov: Cutler Concedes in Close Race for Governor

From the Portland Press Herald, Eliot Cutler's Statement on Concession:

At noon today I will announce at a press conference here in Portland that I have spoken with Mayor Paul LePage and congratulated him on his victory. The results that are available to us this morning are unofficial and informal, but I believe that it is unlikely that there will be a material change in the outcome.

Although we all will await the official tabulations by the Secretary of State, I do not want to make it more difficult for Paul to assemble the team he needs to govern the State of Maine and to prepare a budget for the next biennium. In all likelihood, he will be the next governor for all the people of the State of Maine, and all of us who love the State of Maine should give him our support as he sets out on a difficult journey.

I am unendingly grateful to you for your investment in the effort we have made and your support for our vision for Maine.

I am proud of the fact that we came from literally zero to just a few thousand votes short of winning in a mere 16 months. And I am prouder still that we stuck a dagger in the heart of negative campaigning in the State of Maine, that we never ran a single negative attack ad nor made a single personal attack, that we withstood an onslaught of lies, slander and deception directed against us and that we emerge from this race with our heads held high and our integrity intact. You should be proud of your participation in this campaign, and I hope that you are, as I am. I am indebted to you and grateful to you.

Mike Bloomberg: Independent President Would Be More Effective than Democrat or Republican

From the Washington Post:

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent who has considered running for president, declared Monday that an independent has a better chance at succeeding in the White House than a Republican or a Democrat . . . at Harvard University on Monday he endorsed the idea of an independent in the White House. "I think actually a third-party candidate could run the government easier than a partisan political president because the partisan political president - yeah he's got half the votes, but he can't get the others - whereas the guy in the middle may very well be able to get enough across the aisle," Bloomberg said.

NY-Study: In Nearly 40 Races, Only One Candidate on Ballot

From Poli-Tea:

On New York's general election ballot, 2010, there are at least four candidates in all of the races for statewide offices (excluding elections for the judiciary).  However, in the 241 races for US House, State Senate and State Assembly, there are only 39 contests in which there are more than two candidates on the ballot; and there are 37 in which there is only one!  These are just some of the findings from a Poli-Tea study and analysis of New York's general election ballot. 

Read the whole thing. 

KS: Libertarian and Reform Parties Aim for Major Party Status

From the Kansas City Star:

With so many citizens fed up with both Democrats and Republicans this year, third-party candidates in Kansas hope protest votes will push them into the big leagues.

Some observers think the Libertarian or Reform parties have a real chance of winning 5 percent of the vote statewide, which would give them major-party status in the state and more access to debates. The Constitutional and Libertarian parties have major-party status in Missouri.

The Democratic-Republican Masquerade Party

From the Chair of the Libertarian Party of Mississippi:

For the last several decades during election season, Candidates and Incumbents alike, campaign on fiscal responsibility and the protection of civil liberties. Year after year and election cycle after election cycle, these people are voted into office. But as soon as they’re elected, they take off their libertarian mask and revert back to their true identities, where the Government is the cure-all for most of societies’ woes.

What amazes me most, is not that they wear such cool disguises (I mean, afterall, who wouldn’t want to be called a libertarian?), but rather how many people don’t see it as a disguise. Year after year people are duped by these disguises. This year, the Republicans candidates are promising to be good little libertarians, and a lot of people believe them. The question the voters have to ask is, are they really promising fiscal responsibility and protection of civil liberties,….., or is it just a Halloween disguise?

Fortunately for us, a lot of the Republican incumbents have a voting record we can look at to determine if they’re truly interested in liberty of the individual, or if they just became more libertarian in order to get your vote.

On November 2nd, please vote Libertarian. Do not cast your vote on a disguise. Libertarians are the real deal. They are uncompromising in their defense of liberty. The Libertarian Party is known as the Party of Principle. We are called this because we are unwavering on the principles of liberty, both the economic liberty of the individual, as well as the civil, or social liberty of the individual. Libertarians believe in liberty,….period.

Danny Bedwell, chair
Libertarian Party of Mississippi