I'm assuming the answer is no given previous elections where there was no significant write-ins but top 2 prevents any write in campaigns in CA and WA correct?
In California, a write in candidate has to file a write in form and be certified as a write in candidate. A voter can write in anybody they want, but unless they are on the certified write in list, they aren't tabulated.
In California, it's two weeks before election day.
I actually became quite familiar with the rules when I was a roving supervisor over 5 polling locations, and I got a call from a precinct inspector that a drunk wanted to write in all the characters from Fantasia and wanted to make sure they counted. After I heard he was threatening to smash the electronic voting machines if his characters weren't counted, I arrived at the location with police, he calmed down, voted and left.
It's 14 days prior to any election, primary or general. For most elections there is a list of qualified writeins at the polling place that nobody pays attention to.
An exception was in 2002 in Orange County when a judge, Ronald Kline, was unopposed on the ballot and found to have kiddie porn on the computer in his chambers. A massive write in campaign started and was promoted by every media outlet in SoCal, and he lost.
Interesting context thanks. Something to consider if the GOP gets the top 2 slots in CA-GOV. I know it's unlikely but if it does happen hope Dems rally around the top Dem vote getter with a write in campaign.
As with last weekend, I’m going to list some races I’ve been interested in as of late, and why:
- NY-Gov: How vulnerable is Hochul? Given Stefanik’s recent behavior, is Hochul more or less favored? And how much better will we do in a bluer environment?
- MN-Gov: Will Walz retire? And who might run if he doesn’t? Steve Simon? Angie Craig? Peggy Flanagan?
- MN-05: Is Ilhan Omar still vulnerable to a primary challenge? She has fared poorly against challengers in the past, only barely winning. However, progressives are doing much better in primaries now, and Omar made the news for her handling of Trump’s racist attacks on Somalis. Nevertheless, Omar Fateh still lost the mayors’ race, and progressives lost their City Council supermajority. Could Omar still be taken out? Note that the challenger there is is quite weak.
- TX-Sen: If Crockett enters, what happens to Talarico? Has he still got a shot?
- IL-09: Is Biss still favored? Could Kat pull off an upset? If AIPAC gets involved, will Fine do better?
- NY-10: Will both Lander and Aviles run? If so, will Goldman benefit from a split ticket?
- Dallas Mayor: This is years away, but I’m curious to see who might run now that Eric Johnson is term-limited/became a turncoat Repub. Who might be interested?
- NC in general: Anderson Clayton is one of the best Dem chairs in the country. How well might we keep doing with her at the helm?
- Potential special elections/retirements: Much chatter has focused on potential GOP retirements, given the general sense of misery in the caucus. Who’s on retirement watch? Resignation watch?
- AZ-Gov: I’ve heard Katie Hobbs isn’t very popular. We are still in a pretty blue environment. Could that push Hobbs over the edge? Will an extremist GOP nominee like Andy Biggs help us?
- NY-17: My home district. Could we finally knock out Lawler? Or is he entrenched now?
- NY-SD-13: Jessica Ramos’ endorsement of Cuomo and fights with the left, combined with a strong primary challenger in State Assemb. Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, may or may not have made her vulnerable. Notably, said challenger has both progressive and centrist support. What might happen here?
- NE-Sen: How might Dan Osborn fare in a bluer environment?
- IL-Comptroller: A crowded field has emerged here in this now-open seat. Who might win?
- IL-04: Is Patty Garcia a guaranteed winner? Or might an upset brew from Sigcho-Lopez or the other woman who just filed an an independent?
- Reach seats in general: After what happened in TN, what are some reach seats we could now gun for? Who are some candidates who might help flip these seats?
- AZ-02: Jonathan Nez did shockingly well here last year. He’s running again. What are his chances now? Could he once again juice the Native American vote?
- WI Redistricting: Might a more favorable map come out of this? If so, what seats might be more favorable?
- NY-11: On paper, this seat shouldn’t be winnable. However, ex-NYC Councilman Justin Brannan has been floating a bid here — and he has a support base in Staten Island. If he runs, might he do better? Or is he as screwed as anyone else?
- NY-AD-36 special: Mamdani’s seat. Will the local Dems try to appoint a centrist as their nominee to stick it to the DSA/WFP? Or will they find a candidate who avoids pissing off the left?
- DC Mayor: Will the left, or the center win here? The occupation has me thinking the former — am I wrong?
- HI-01: Could we finally knock out Ed Case? Or will a split field help him? Could we win even without a split field?
- CA-48: Issa is now quite vulnerable, and I believe we’ll win this one. But with who? And how likely is it we win here?
I have more but I’ll stop here to avoid overwhelming everyone.
I'm assuming the answer is no given previous elections where there was no significant write-ins but top 2 prevents any write in campaigns in CA and WA correct?
In California, a write in candidate has to file a write in form and be certified as a write in candidate. A voter can write in anybody they want, but unless they are on the certified write in list, they aren't tabulated.
I guess my next question would be if the deadline to get on the certified list is before or after the first round of the primary.
In California, it's two weeks before election day.
I actually became quite familiar with the rules when I was a roving supervisor over 5 polling locations, and I got a call from a precinct inspector that a drunk wanted to write in all the characters from Fantasia and wanted to make sure they counted. After I heard he was threatening to smash the electronic voting machines if his characters weren't counted, I arrived at the location with police, he calmed down, voted and left.
Just to clarify before the first round or the November election. Also what a story lol.
It's 14 days prior to any election, primary or general. For most elections there is a list of qualified writeins at the polling place that nobody pays attention to.
An exception was in 2002 in Orange County when a judge, Ronald Kline, was unopposed on the ballot and found to have kiddie porn on the computer in his chambers. A massive write in campaign started and was promoted by every media outlet in SoCal, and he lost.
https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/02/us/judge-facing-pornography-charges-is-unopposed-on-ballot.html
Interesting context thanks. Something to consider if the GOP gets the top 2 slots in CA-GOV. I know it's unlikely but if it does happen hope Dems rally around the top Dem vote getter with a write in campaign.
As with last weekend, I’m going to list some races I’ve been interested in as of late, and why:
- NY-Gov: How vulnerable is Hochul? Given Stefanik’s recent behavior, is Hochul more or less favored? And how much better will we do in a bluer environment?
- MN-Gov: Will Walz retire? And who might run if he doesn’t? Steve Simon? Angie Craig? Peggy Flanagan?
- MN-05: Is Ilhan Omar still vulnerable to a primary challenge? She has fared poorly against challengers in the past, only barely winning. However, progressives are doing much better in primaries now, and Omar made the news for her handling of Trump’s racist attacks on Somalis. Nevertheless, Omar Fateh still lost the mayors’ race, and progressives lost their City Council supermajority. Could Omar still be taken out? Note that the challenger there is is quite weak.
- TX-Sen: If Crockett enters, what happens to Talarico? Has he still got a shot?
- IL-09: Is Biss still favored? Could Kat pull off an upset? If AIPAC gets involved, will Fine do better?
- NY-10: Will both Lander and Aviles run? If so, will Goldman benefit from a split ticket?
- Dallas Mayor: This is years away, but I’m curious to see who might run now that Eric Johnson is term-limited/became a turncoat Repub. Who might be interested?
- NC in general: Anderson Clayton is one of the best Dem chairs in the country. How well might we keep doing with her at the helm?
- Potential special elections/retirements: Much chatter has focused on potential GOP retirements, given the general sense of misery in the caucus. Who’s on retirement watch? Resignation watch?
- AZ-Gov: I’ve heard Katie Hobbs isn’t very popular. We are still in a pretty blue environment. Could that push Hobbs over the edge? Will an extremist GOP nominee like Andy Biggs help us?
- NY-17: My home district. Could we finally knock out Lawler? Or is he entrenched now?
- NY-SD-13: Jessica Ramos’ endorsement of Cuomo and fights with the left, combined with a strong primary challenger in State Assemb. Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, may or may not have made her vulnerable. Notably, said challenger has both progressive and centrist support. What might happen here?
- NE-Sen: How might Dan Osborn fare in a bluer environment?
- IL-Comptroller: A crowded field has emerged here in this now-open seat. Who might win?
- IL-04: Is Patty Garcia a guaranteed winner? Or might an upset brew from Sigcho-Lopez or the other woman who just filed an an independent?
- Reach seats in general: After what happened in TN, what are some reach seats we could now gun for? Who are some candidates who might help flip these seats?
- AZ-02: Jonathan Nez did shockingly well here last year. He’s running again. What are his chances now? Could he once again juice the Native American vote?
- WI Redistricting: Might a more favorable map come out of this? If so, what seats might be more favorable?
- NY-11: On paper, this seat shouldn’t be winnable. However, ex-NYC Councilman Justin Brannan has been floating a bid here — and he has a support base in Staten Island. If he runs, might he do better? Or is he as screwed as anyone else?
- NY-AD-36 special: Mamdani’s seat. Will the local Dems try to appoint a centrist as their nominee to stick it to the DSA/WFP? Or will they find a candidate who avoids pissing off the left?
- DC Mayor: Will the left, or the center win here? The occupation has me thinking the former — am I wrong?
- HI-01: Could we finally knock out Ed Case? Or will a split field help him? Could we win even without a split field?
- CA-48: Issa is now quite vulnerable, and I believe we’ll win this one. But with who? And how likely is it we win here?
I have more but I’ll stop here to avoid overwhelming everyone.