On August 17, Washington state held its top-two primary. No minor party members qualified for the November ballot for any federal or state office, except in races in which only one major party member was running. However, in one U.S. House race, an independent candidate did qualify for the November ballot, even though there was more than one major party member running. That was in the 7th district, centered in Seattle. Democratic incumbent Jim McDermott polled 78.8%. Bob Jeffers-Schroder, whose label was “Independent-No Party” placed second with 6.9% and will be on the ballot in November. No Republican ran in that race; the primary ballot had four Democrats and two independents.
The term “minor party” in the paragraph above means an actual organization, i.e., a group with officers, bylaws, and meetings. It doesn’t refer to candidates who chose a “party preference” that is not a real-world organization. Examples of such labels are: GOP, Lower Taxes, Independent Democrat.
Here is a link to the unofficial election returns on the Secretary of State’s web page.
The top 2 stuff does ZERO about the gerrymanders in the WA State legislature.
NO primaries are needed.
1. Equal nominating petitions for [general] elections.
2. P.R. legislative
3. App.V. executive/judicial
It’s ridiculous to have a runoff when the top candidate gets 78.8% and the second-place candidate only receives 6.9%.
#2 With P.R. there would be NO safe seat winners.
The minority rule gerrymander ROT continues to a super-crisis point in the U.S.A. — perhaps a TOTAL economic collapse regarding savings-investments ? i.e. NO credit.
In the 13th Legislative district, Pos. 2, there was a two way race between a Republican and Anthony Novak, who Prefers Bull Moose Party.
Legislative District 16, Pos. 1 saw the Republican with a single challenger Brenda High, Constitution Party.
Legislative District 19, Pos. 2 has a Democrat with a single challenger Tim Sutinen who prefers Lower Taxes Party.
Legislative District 22, Pos. 2 has Chris Ward (No Party Preference) as the Nov. challenger to the Democrat
In Legislative District 46, Pos. 2 the Democrat is challenged by Beau Gunderson (No Party Preference)
And in one State Senate race – District 37 – the Democrat is challenged by Tamra Smilinich (No Party Preference)
In several other districts, No Party or alternative Party candidates received substantial percentages but not enough to make it into the top two.
Pingback: Green Party Watch » Blog Archive » Top Two Primary Results in Washington State - America’s #1 Source for Green Party News & Views
There are three legislative races where more than one major party candidate sought to qualify for the general election ballot, and an independent or 3rd party candidate may qualify.
Your definition of “minor party” is not to be found in Washington law. The highly esteemed Sam Reed did propose a definition similar to the one which you advocate. It was blocked by the Forces of FUD in the Washington legislature.
#4 The FACT that ANY non-Donkeys/Elephants got nominated should help put the pending WA top 2 primary case into the history trash can.
On to P.R. and App.V. — perhaps starting in WA State (if not in CA).
NO primaries are needed.
Turnout was up about 15% over 2006, the last year to use the archaic partisan primary system.