RandySF
RandySF's JournalVolatility Ahead in LA Mayor's Race; UCLA Luskin Poll Finds 40% of Voters Undecided
With just two months to go before a primary election for Los Angeles’ next mayor, 40% of the electorate remains undecided, signaling volatile weeks of campaigning ahead, according to a new poll by the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.
Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass led the field with 25% support, followed by conservative television personality Spencer Pratt at 11% and Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman at 9%, according to the poll of likely LA primary voters.
Also on the ballot are tech entrepreneur Adam Miller and housing activist Rae Huang, who each received 3%. Nine percent of respondents indicated they would support “a different candidate.” A total of 14 candidates are vying for the city’s top office.
If no candidate wins a majority in the June 2 primary, the top two vote-getters will face off in November to determine who will lead the nation’s second-most populous city.
https://luskin.ucla.edu/volatility-ahead-in-la-mayors-race-ucla-luskin-poll-finds-40-of-voters-undecided
Wisconsin Lawmakers Propose Ranked Choice Voting for All Elections
BELOIT, Wis. — State Senator Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) and Representative Clinton Anderson (D-Beloit) introduced LRB-5709 on March 5, legislation that would implement ranked choice voting for state, federal, and local elections in Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin legislation would also eliminate the need for February primaries in nonpartisan elections.
Today, voters in Wisconsin almost never elect independent candidates, because the state’s elections are decided by first-past-the-post plurality voting (FPPV). In this system, a voter’s expression of preference is restricted to a single candidate. Each voter has just one choice, and if there are more than two candidates in the race, winning by plurality rather than majority is quite possible.
Consequently, no matter how attractive an independent candidate may seem in the spring, summer, and early fall of an election year, he or she will be tarnished as a “spoiler” on Election Day and will almost certainly lose.
https://thefulcrum.us/elections/wisconsin-ranked-choice-voting-proposal-2026
Jackson County Legislature will turn over this year. See who's running for a seat
Jackson County residents will select a new slate of leaders later this year to helm the county government through another season. And with several longtime legislators bowing out or ineligible to rerun, at least half of the Jackson County Legislature is guaranteed to turn over in 2027, following a few years of fierce division that made it hard for the current body to take action on much.
The Jackson County Legislature consists of nine members, six of whom represent specific districts. The other three are at-large members representing all county residents. Legislators meet weekly to discuss and pass local ordinances, approve municipal contracts and set policies that have a countywide impact, particularly for the unincorporated parts of the county.
Members serve four-year terms and are limited to two consecutive terms as of 2019. However, current legislators who won their seats in 2018 - namely, Jalen Anderson - are exempt from the new term limits and will be eligible to run for a third term in August. (Legislator Charlie Franklin is also eligible for a third term under the exemption, but did not file to run again.)
A primary election will take place on Aug. 4 to replace between five and nine current legislators, with a general election on Nov. 3. Those elected or re-elected this year will start their terms on January 1, 2027, and will serve through January 1, 2031.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/jackson-county/article315291335.html#storylink=cpy
Millburn Charter Study Commission Signals Support for a Special June Election
MILLBURN, NJ — The Millburn Charter Study Commission in its March 31 meeting discussed when voters should decide whether to adopt a new form of government.
A majority of commissioners indicated support for a June 2026 special election as opposed to placing the question on the general ballot next November.
Attorney Mike Collins reported that the first two sections of the Commission’s final report are nearly complete, with the final analytical section to be drafted once decisions on timing and structure are finalized.
Collins also clarified that draft reports should not be released publicly and that the Commission dissolves immediately after approving its final report.
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/millburn-slash-short-hills/articles/millburn-charter-study-commission-signals-support-for-a-special-june-election
2 candidates in Houston District C council race appear to be headed to runoff election
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The District C special election appears to be headed to a runoff.
Houston District C candidates Joe Panzarella and Nick Hellyar received the most votes in a field of seven candidates, according to unofficial results from the Harris County Clerk's Office.
Nearly 9,400 voters cast ballots in the special election, according to the Harris County Clerk's Office
Panzarella and Hellyar would be headed to a runoff because no candidate reached the required 50% threshold to avoid a runoff.
https://abc13.com/post/houston-district-race-2-candidates-appear-headed-runoff-election/18843781/
Early voting for May 2 local elections begins in two weeks
HUNT COUNTY – Voters in Greenville and Greenville ISD will be among those across Hunt County deciding a slate of municipal propositions, along with city council and school board races in the May 2 election.
In Greenville, six proposed amendments to the city charter will appear on the ballot, alongside a contested city council race for Place 4.
Proposition A would amend the charter to clarify the city council’s authority under state law to set city boundaries and annex adjacent territory only with the consent of affected residents or as otherwise permitted by law. Proposition B would require city council vacancies to be filled by special election within 120 days if more than 12 months remain in a term, while allowing appointments if a year or less remains.
Proposition C addresses eminent domain, proposing updates to ensure compliance with state law, including requirements for fair market value compensation, public purpose and proper notice. Proposition D would remove term limits for the mayor and council members while maintaining three-year terms.
https://www.heraldbanner.com/news/local_news/early-voting-for-may-2-local-elections-begins-in-two-weeks/article_224f8680-a82a-49d7-84cb-a334f231180b.html
Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner (R) Announces Re-Election Bid, Citing Experience and Agency Progress
Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner has announced his candidacy for re-election, highlighting more than a decade of leadership in the county’s top law enforcement position and over 28 years of service within the Sheriff’s Office.
Wagner, who has served as sheriff since 2015, said the role has been “the greatest honor” of his career, emphasizing the importance of leading a professional and committed team dedicated to public safety across Adams County.
Throughout his tenure, Wagner pointed to a number of operational and infrastructure improvements within the Sheriff’s Office. These include securing funding for a new evidence storage facility, assisting in the modernization of the county jail through federal and local funding, and upgrading equipment to ensure deputies have reliable tools in the field.
The Sheriff also highlighted expanded training efforts across the agency, including for deputies, corrections staff, and dispatchers, as well as his own continued certification and instructional roles in Taser and Field Training Officer programs. Wagner has also received specialized training as an advanced interviewer.
https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/adams-county-sheriff-dale-wagner-announces-re-election-bid-citing-experience-and-agency-progress/article_04276a68-d7af-430d-9875-2398c9296e11.html
Sales Tax Question for Clinton County Municipal Election
CLINTON COUNTY, Mo (KQTV) -- The Clinton County Municipal Election ballot on Tuesday, April 7, asks voters about a potential sales tax for the county.
If voters were to vote yes on this tax, they would see $.0025 of every dollar go towards a fifty six bed detention center added onto the county courthouse.
It would also see the money help remodeling courtrooms and judges offices.
If the tax is passed, it would go into effect for thirty years to the day of it being first imposed.
https://www.kq2.com/news/elections/local-elections/2026/04/05/sales-tax-question-for-clinton-county-municipal-election/
GO Bond Election: Addressing Broken Arrow's Infrastructure
When Broken Arrow was founded and its population was much smaller, much of the traffic in town simply traveled north and south as retail and employment patterns dictated at the time.
That all changed when the Broken Arrow Expressway opened and fueled the city’s rapid growth, and as economic ties continued to develop between Broken Arrow and Tulsa, it brought renewed focus to how and where commuters travel today.
The infrastructure needs of Broken Arrow’s transportation system is the primary focus of Proposition 1 in the citywide April 7 General Obligation (GO) Bond election. The fate of some $205 million worth of road widening and intersection improvements, and other infrastructure projects, are going before voters. That amount represents more than half of the entire $415 million total being considered Tuesday.
The drainage and stormwater projects in Propositions 5 and 6 are intended to reduce flooding, improve drainage systems, and address stormwater runoff in key areas of the city. If these 3 propositions passed it would not increase property taxes.
https://basentinel.com/go-bond-election-addressing-broken-arrows-infrastructure-2/
MI-GOV: Was John James (R) in Turks and Caicos? He wasn't at a gun range
U.S. Rep. John James, one of the leading contenders for the Republican nomination for governor, may have diverted attention from a TMZ report last week that he was vacationing in the Turks and Caicos while some federal employees aren’t getting paychecks by posting a video of himself at a gun range....
Except the footage was from August, when he shot target practice with a writer from the Michigan Enjoyer, a James-friendly online outlet of mysterious origin that published a glowing article last summer about the candidate’s mission to restore manliness in Michigan.
Then on Friday, on the Tigers’ Opening Day, the two-term congressman from Shelby Township posted a photo of himself and his sons at Comerica Park that seemed to suggest he was at the ballpark for the first home game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Except he wasn’t. James' spokeswoman admitted as much without confirming the TMZ report that he was vacationing in the Caribbean, which was based on a photo the liberal X account Distill Social obtained and published Thursday afternoon.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2026/04/04/john-james-turks-and-caicos-vacation-michigan-enjoyer-gun-range-target-practice-tigers-opening-day/89448145007/
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