I-872

SPOKANE -

Rep. Sam Hunt (D-Olympia) just introduced state Democratic Party Chair Dwight Pelz in a discussion about the "top two" primary, how it came about, and where it might lead. He enumerated the differences between Washington's current setup and the Louisiana process after which it was modeled. Hunt, like Pelz, is not a fan of the system.

Pelz read from the Supreme Court's decision that upheld I-872, notably the passage that created wiggle room by stating that voter confusion in the ballots could reverse the decision.

The party chair maintains that "it is our opinion that the courts did not uphold the constitutionality" of top two when they upheld it earlier this year, but rather they declined to rule on it.

"We think Democrats should pick Democratic candidates," he reiterated, "and Republicans should pick Republican candidates."

Secretary of State Sam Reed will address the Panorama Republicans this Wednesday, April 2 in Lacey according to The Olympian.

RENTON -

Pierce County Executive and Democratic Attorney General candidate John Ladenburg addressed a crowd of precinct officers, candidates and party activists at the monthly King County Democrats meeting Tuesday night at the Carpenter's Union Hall in Renton.

The Supreme Court decision from yesterday to uphold I-872 does not merely pertain to theoretical party rights. It also has a direct effect on the actions of party power brokers and candidates relative to what they do and say, and how they allocate their resources between the primary and the general elections. This will be especially true in the heavily partisan areas of the state that stand to promote two candidates from the same party.

Yesterday the United States Supreme Court upheld the controversial I-872 law which creates a "Top Two Primary" system in Washington, whereby voters choose their favorite candidate for office in an August 19 Primary, and the top two vote getters, regardless of party affiliation, earn the right to a spot on November's general election ballot.  read more »