When preferences among delegates at a convention differ so drastically from actual primary results, that's not an issue with the primary voters. That's an issue with the delegates, and how they're selected, and how the conventions are organized. And that's true for both parties.
Frankly, these nominating conventions being so massively unrepresentative of actual primary voters reminds me of the presidential caucuses that many states used to use to allocate presidential delegates. For very good reason, almost all of those states have switched to primaries more recently. It's time for Utah, Colorado, and any other state that still uses such a system to get rid of those absurdly unrepresentative conventions and actually respect the will of their own party's primary voters.
I mean, primaries in both states still determine who the nominee is. In DeGette's case, she could have easily collected the 1,500 signatures needed for ballot access. She chose to go the caucus route knowing the types of dems who show up to them. That's on her, not the delegates.
Our longtime MA Secretary of State (technically Secretary of the Commonwealth) Bill Galvin always gets creamed at the convention, but handily wins his primaries. He only needs 15% at the convention, so it's really just a an embarrassment rather than an actually setback.
This is in part because the convention is somewhat more progressive than the electorate, but also because the issues that people are unhappy with Galvin for are rather insider baseball, and not widely known by the voters at large.
DeGette is my congressperson. In 2022 the progressives went after DeGette with a much more qualified candidate, Neal Walia, who had been a Hicklooper staffer. She won 81-18. Kiros is a PhD student. She went to law school and never practiced law or was even admitted into a state bar, as far as I could tell looking her up in three states. She grew up in a neighboring district and went to college and law school out of state. DeGette is wildly popular in the district. DeGette will easily get the signatures and easily win the primary and election. The caucuses are part of Colorado politics. They are not going away. If DeGette had not participated it would have been held against her.
yeah, California would like a word about its Dem party delegates' close relationship with Betty Yee that is way disproportionate to her standing with actual voters.
Unfortunately, in my area in Northern Virginia the outreach through media, mailing, and yard signs overwhelmingly favors the No side. Not sure if the Yes side takes Northern Virginia for granted.
Amendment 3, which would ban abortion, leads 47-40. This is likely because of the "ballot candy" language to ban "transgender minors from receiving puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones or gender transition surgeries," which is already illegal in Missouri.
Voters oppose the new gerrymander 41-44.
Voters support sales tax over income tax 52-29. Missouri republicans want to ask voters in the fall to eliminate income tax and replace it with a sales tax hike on whatever Missouri politicians decide to tax. When asked about specific types of sales taxes, however, voters disapproved. They oppose a tax on home sales 34-53, a tax on car repair services 29-60, streaming services 43-44, and gas and diesel 34-55.
I did watch Joe Trippi talk on a podcast with Laura Belin about the Iowa races and how Congressional districts 1 and 3 could flip. Belin seemed less bullish about the open Senate seat flipping though.
When preferences among delegates at a convention differ so drastically from actual primary results, that's not an issue with the primary voters. That's an issue with the delegates, and how they're selected, and how the conventions are organized. And that's true for both parties.
Frankly, these nominating conventions being so massively unrepresentative of actual primary voters reminds me of the presidential caucuses that many states used to use to allocate presidential delegates. For very good reason, almost all of those states have switched to primaries more recently. It's time for Utah, Colorado, and any other state that still uses such a system to get rid of those absurdly unrepresentative conventions and actually respect the will of their own party's primary voters.
I mean, primaries in both states still determine who the nominee is. In DeGette's case, she could have easily collected the 1,500 signatures needed for ballot access. She chose to go the caucus route knowing the types of dems who show up to them. That's on her, not the delegates.
Our longtime MA Secretary of State (technically Secretary of the Commonwealth) Bill Galvin always gets creamed at the convention, but handily wins his primaries. He only needs 15% at the convention, so it's really just a an embarrassment rather than an actually setback.
This is in part because the convention is somewhat more progressive than the electorate, but also because the issues that people are unhappy with Galvin for are rather insider baseball, and not widely known by the voters at large.
DeGette is my congressperson. In 2022 the progressives went after DeGette with a much more qualified candidate, Neal Walia, who had been a Hicklooper staffer. She won 81-18. Kiros is a PhD student. She went to law school and never practiced law or was even admitted into a state bar, as far as I could tell looking her up in three states. She grew up in a neighboring district and went to college and law school out of state. DeGette is wildly popular in the district. DeGette will easily get the signatures and easily win the primary and election. The caucuses are part of Colorado politics. They are not going away. If DeGette had not participated it would have been held against her.
It’s too late to get signatures, today is the last day you can file them.
yeah, California would like a word about its Dem party delegates' close relationship with Betty Yee that is way disproportionate to her standing with actual voters.
What are our chances to win that Virginia special election?
I haven’t seen any polling on it, but based on fundraising and the mood of the electorate I would say it’s favored to pass.
Unfortunately, in my area in Northern Virginia the outreach through media, mailing, and yard signs overwhelmingly favors the No side. Not sure if the Yes side takes Northern Virginia for granted.
I believe they’re asking about the HD98 special election in a Trump +15 district, not the ballot amendment.
No IL preview?
I wonder if a separate post is coming later today
I believe they said the preview was coming in a few hours. Should be interesting.
Have faith in our babka overlords!
New Missouri poll:
Amendment 3, which would ban abortion, leads 47-40. This is likely because of the "ballot candy" language to ban "transgender minors from receiving puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones or gender transition surgeries," which is already illegal in Missouri.
Voters oppose the new gerrymander 41-44.
Voters support sales tax over income tax 52-29. Missouri republicans want to ask voters in the fall to eliminate income tax and replace it with a sales tax hike on whatever Missouri politicians decide to tax. When asked about specific types of sales taxes, however, voters disapproved. They oppose a tax on home sales 34-53, a tax on car repair services 29-60, streaming services 43-44, and gas and diesel 34-55.
https://www.slu.edu/research/research-institute/big-ideas/slu-poll/previous-poll-results/february-2026-results.php
Can anyone explain why Abbott is campaigning against Talarico instead of attacking the actual candidate he's facing in the governor's race?
Because if Talarico wins, he's likely bringing Hinojosa over the line with him too.
Abbott thinks he's in a stronger position than Cornyn or Paxton, I guess
It's idiotic, that's what it is.
Democrats recruited more candidates to run in Iowa than Republicans did.
https://x.com/Taniel/status/2033677455752384685
Iowa's deadline passed. Both parties have candidates in all congressional races, & all statewide races.
—For state House:
Dem candidates in 84 of 100 races
GOP candidates in 76 of 100 races
—For state Senate:
Dem candidates in 20 of 25 races
GOP candidates in 19 of 25 races
I did watch Joe Trippi talk on a podcast with Laura Belin about the Iowa races and how Congressional districts 1 and 3 could flip. Belin seemed less bullish about the open Senate seat flipping though.