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Jack Latvala, a master of Florida politics sidelined by scandal, dies
Jack Latvala, a towering force in Florida politics whose rise helped shape the GOP and whose fall ended a gubernatorial bid, died at 74.
Analysis | Can working-class roots help Democrats win back working-class voters?
Democratic gubernatorial candidates are running on personal working-class stories.
James responds to Islamophobia accusation, vowing to target Muslim org
GOP gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township, drew condemnation for remarks he made about a Muslim procession in Dearborn.
Jim Morrissey: Bumper-sticker politics come true
The cartoonist observes that what began as humorous needling in the Weiser-Bennet gubernatorial primary actually came to pass.
Phil Weiser defeats Michael Bennet in Colorado’s Democratic gubernatorial primary
Attorney General Phil Weiser took an early lead over three-term U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in Colorado’s Democratic gubernatorial primary and held onto it, defeating the state’s longest-serving senator in more than 50 years to win a nomination that’s likely to land him in the governor’s office. Weiser led Bennet 55% to 45% just before 8 […]
Phil Weiser leads Michael Bennet in early returns in Colorado’s Democratic gubernatorial primary
Attorney General Phil Weiser took an early lead over U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in Colorado’s Democratic gubernatorial primary as election officials posted initial returns soon after polls closed Tuesday night. In the first round of results, Weiser had secured 60% of the vote to Bennet’s 40%, with just over 200,000 total ballots counted statewide. The […]
Live Results: Colorado midterm primaries
The Democratic gubernatorial primary between U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and state Attorney General Phil Weiser will not only determine who might lead Colorado, but it could also create an opening in the closely divided U.S. Senate.
Politics: Sand speaks with TH on launch of “Rob-publicans” campaign
Ahead of the unveiling of his “Rob-publicans” campaign, Democratic Iowa gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand sat down with the Telegraph Herald to discuss his stance on excess partisanship and what it
Mamdani's suited pool plunge overshadowed by political clash with GOP gubernatorial candidate
Video shows Mayor Zohran Mamdani jumping into an East Harlem pool in a suit, but the event turned into a clash with Bruce Blakeman over remarks about a Dem congressional candidate.
Deb Haaland Outlines Small Business Agenda in Address to Albuquerque Chamber
Native Vote 2026 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) on Thursday outlined her vision for making New Mexico more welcoming to entrepreneurs and small businesses during an address to the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, pledging to reduce regulatory barriers while investing in education, public safety, and economic development. Drawing on her own experience […]
Deb Haaland Outlines Small Business Agenda in Address to Albuquerque Chamber
Native Vote 2026 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) on Thursday outlined her vision for making New Mexico more welcoming to entrepreneurs and small businesses during an addre...
Politics in the Park: GOP gubernatorial candidates share visions for Wyoming governor
CASPER, Wyo. — Three Republican gubernatorial candidates shared their views on a myriad of topics spanning taxation, energy production, resource rights
Politics in the Park: GOP gubernatorial candidates share visions for Wyoming governor
CASPER, Wyo. — Three Republican gubernatorial candidates shared their views on a myriad of topics spanning taxation, energy production, resource rights
Kansas Democratic gubernatorial candidate's union membership sparks political finger-pointing
Democratic candidate Cindy Holscher's membership in the KNEA union raises an alarm in union-endorsed rival Ethan Corson's campaign for governor.
Trump foe wins crucial Dem primary as 2028 presidential speculation swirls
Gov. Wes Moore wins Maryland's Democratic gubernatorial primary, moving closer to re-election amid 2028 presidential speculation and Trump feuds.
Trump endorses John James in Michigan governor race as GOP rival exits primary
President Donald Trump issues full-throated endorsement of U.S. Rep. John James for Michigan governor prior to the Republican gubernatorial primary
Lincoln Day Dinner: GOP gubernatorial candidates talk growth, business, preserving Tennessee culture
Two candidates in Tennessee's gubernatorial race discussed growth, business recruitment and preserving Volunteer State values at Saturday's Lincoln Day Dinner, the Hamilton County Republican Party's largest annual fundraiser.
David Jolly banks $255K more as Dotie Joseph launches late long-shot gubernatorial bid
The former Republican is in good shape with less than two months before the Primary.
Double endorsement drama: Trump backs second candidate in red state’s GOP gubernatorial runoff
Trump endorses both Wilson and Evette in South Carolina's GOP gubernatorial runoff, hedging his bets ahead of the high-profile Tuesday contest.
June 17 Playbook: Data Centers Scrambling PA Politics
🌞 It’s Wednesday! The halfway mark Headlines. Fight Over US Datacenters Is Scrambling Pennsylvania Politics. Energy Future A Defining Issue in Gubernatorial Race. PA Supreme Court Blasts Philly DA’s Office. “Charm Pricing” 🎶 Your Morning Pick Me Up. We’re Not Gonna Take It. Twisted Sister PA Weather☀️ Meadville | Mostly…
Nuanced differences on business issues separate Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls
Both Democratic gubernatorial candidates vow to boost Colorado's business atmosphere, but they offer different approaches to doing so.
Trump wins two, loses one: Georgia billionaire delivers rare blow to endorsement machine
Trump-backed candidates won two of three key GOP runoffs in Georgia and Alabama, but lost the gubernatorial race to billionaire Rick Jackson.
Georgia gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson, in his GOP runoff election victory, says his campaign "shattered" the political class
Where Colorado's Republican gubernatorial candidates stand on business issues
The Republican gubernatorial candidates largely agree on issues like housing and job creation but offer different implementation plans.
Today’s Georgia Runoffs Could Shape Politics for Years
Republicans are selecting a challenger to rising Democratic star Jon Ossoff and a gubernatorial candidate who may oversee voting in 2028.
Pols & Politics: Howie Carr offers GOP gubernatorial candidates on-air debate
Longtime Boston Herald columnist and talk radio host Howie Carr is offering Brian Shortsleeve and Mike Minogue the opportunity to join a live, on-air debate on his radio show.
'Let the candidates mix it up.': Ron DeSantis keeps pressure on Evan Power for GOP gubernatorial debate
'These ridiculous criteria are being used to renege on that promise and to engineer a preferred outcome.'
Iowa politics: Watch KCCI's full sit-down interview with GOP gubernatorial nominee Zach Lahn
KCCI's Amanda Rooker sat down with Republican gubernatorial nominee Zach Lahn following his primary win June 2. Watch the full interview.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn chooses Derek Wulf as running mate
Zach Lahn picks Derek Wulf as his running mate in the Iowa governor's race.
House Dems Ilhan Omar and Sarah McBride mock Republican Nancy Mace over gubernatorial primary drubbing
Reps. Ilhan Omar and Sarah McBride mocked Rep. Nancy Mace after she placed fifth in the South Carolina GOP gubernatorial primary contest.
The facts didn’t fit Trump’s California conspiracy theory. So he adjusted the conspiracy theory
If you’re pushing the baseless conspiracy theory that the results of last week’s California primary elections were rigged against Republicans like gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton, it would seem highly inconvenient that Hilton has succeeded in qualifying for the November runoffs.
Three of four Republicans who forced the release of the Epstein files are now out of jobs
With GOP Rep. Nancy Mace’s embarrassing fifth-place finish in the South Carolina gubernatorial primary Tuesday, three of the four House Republicans who forced the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files will soon no longer hold elected office.
Once a rising star, Nancy Mace suffers resounding defeat in governor’s race
The South Carolina congresswoman finished fifth in the state’s GOP gubernatorial primary, according to unofficial returns, solidly losing even her own home county and district.
2nd District, gubernatorial races to go to ranked-choice runoff
Republican Bobby Charles declared himself the first-round leader in the GOP gubernatorial race.
Republican Steve Hilton will advance to November election in California governor’s race, CNN projects
Republican Steve Hilton will advance to the November election in California’s gubernatorial race, CNN’s Decision Desk projects. Hilton, a former Fox News host who has President Donald Trump’s endorsement, will face former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, a Democrat.
Primary election results will determine final candidates for governor
Voters had until 7 p.m. on June 9 to cast their ballots in the South Carolina gubernatorial primaries.
Republicans try to extend winning streak in South Carolina as Graham seeks fifth term
Democrats in both gubernatorial and Senate primaries have criticized what they see as failures of South Carolina's GOP-dominated leadership.
Robert Charles details Maine's political climate and need for change
Robert Charles, Maine gubernatorial candidate, discusses his strong polling lead despite being outspent. He highlights Mainers' frustration with 'woke' schools, high taxes, crime and insiders, emphasizing a grassroots movement for 'massive change.'
Nevada governor’s race will reflect national political environment
Nevada is among a handful of states with a gubernatorial race worth watching after Tuesday’s Primary Election.
Texas Politics Unscripted | Battleground Texas
From high-stakes Senate and gubernatorial showdowns to the sudden resignation of the state's chief election officer, Battleground Texas breaks down the fierce races reshaping the ultimate electoral battleground.
'Affordability politics' are dominating NY's gubernatorial race. How are Blakeman and Hochul approaching it?
Both candidates are providing different fixes to the issue.
Jay Collins to pitch senior protection programs in Monday news conference
Collins has his work cut out for him in the gubernatorial Republican nomination for the Primary Election.
Can Spencer Pratt, Tom Steyer clear primary hurdles? California election updates
Reality TV's Spencer Pratt is losing ground in the LA mayoral race as Democrat Tom Steyer and Republican Steve Hilton compete in the gubernatorial primary.
WATCH: Mace says Trump's endorsement hasn't sealed SC gubernatorial race: ‘It’s a dog fight’
Rep. Nancy Mace says Trump's endorsement of Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette hasn't resonated with grassroots Republicans in South Carolina's GOP primary.
Steve Hilton launches ad mocking Xavier Becerra's '36 years' as a career politician in California gov race
Steve Hilton launches campaign ad mocking Xavier Becerra's 36-year political career as California's gubernatorial general election fight begins.
A Maine gubernatorial candidate is running as a political outsider. His last name is Bush
Jonathan Bush, the nephew of former President George H.W. Bush and cousin of former President George W. Bush is trying to break through a crowded GOP field in Tuesday’s gubernatorial primary and put Maine in play this fall.
Rob Sand and Zach Lahn to speak at gubernatorial business forum
The candidates will focus on business policy issues, including workforce, tax and regulatory policy, and economic growth.
Takeaways from the California gubernatorial primary election
Money can't buy love. The gubernatorial glass ceiling remains intact. California voters show — again — that boring can be beautiful. Five takeaways from the gubernatorial primary.
Lahn's win in GOP primary for Iowa governor is a setback for Trump that could signal MAHA strength
Businessman Zach Lahn’s win in Iowa’s Republican gubernatorial primary over President Donald Trump’s pick is a rare electoral setback for Trump
New Mexicans vote in gubernatorial primaries as revenue soars from oil boom
Tuesday's primary election also comes at a time of promise for the next governor: Elevated global oil prices from the Iran war have translated into an influx of tax revenue.
WATCH LIVE: South Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidates meet for debate
South Carolina's Republican candidates for governor will take part in a debate hosted by public media station SCETV Monday.
Rising costs and affordability top concerns for voters this primary election
Across party lines, Ventura County voters say the cost of living is influencing their decision when voting for California governor this election
Steve Hilton smashed up UK politics — now he wants to upend California’s
The onetime British Conservative Party adviser has a shot at making the top-two runoff in next week’s gubernatorial primary.
How California’s Fight for Governor Became a Hot Mess for Democrats
Scandals, missteps and a lack of Democratic unity have complicated the state’s gubernatorial election.
'Unfinished business': Ron DeSantis in no rush to endorse successor or to declare post-gubernatorial plans
'I've got a lot of irons in the fire.'
'Unfinished business': Ron DeSantis in no rush to endorse successor or to declare post-gubernatorial plans
'I've got a lot of irons in the fire.'
Inside California Politics: Final Emerson poll sets up intriguing election day
(Inside California Politics) — A new poll released just days before polls close in California’s gubernatorial primary show a tight race with three candidates competing for just two spots in t…
Xavier Becerra faces attack, some unwarranted, from Washington
Gubernatorial rivals, led by Democrat Tom Steyer, have made Becerra's years in the Biden Cabinet a focus of attacks. While there's certainly room for criticism, there seems to be some axes being ground.
Colorado governor candidates pledge to improve state's business climate
Gubernatorial candidates Bennet, Weiser, Kirkmeyer, and Marx appeared at forum in Glendale recently.
Bailey wants to keep the Bears. How? Well, that’s not clear.
As Illinois lawmakers struggle to craft a plan that would help keep the Chicago Bears from moving to Indiana, Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey says the state should find a way to keep the team — but insists individual taxpayers should also get a break.
Colorado business groups host gubernatorial forum Thursday
Several business groups are hosting a forum among gubernatorial candidates on Thursday morning. The candidates attending are Democratic Attorney General Phil Weiser and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, and Republicans Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer and Victor Marx. The forum will take place from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at the Infinity Park Event Center in Glendale. The organizers […]
Platner, Sanders, Jackson join forces again for Memorial Day rally
Almost nine months after U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont came to Maine to announce his support for gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson and U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner — who at the time was a little known oyster farmer — the three rallied in Portland again on Monday to talk about their plans to make […]
Sanders-backed gubernatorial hopeful's past pro-life views clash with current abortion stance
Troy Jackson's abortion stance shifted dramatically from a perfect pro-life voting record to championing expanded access in his Maine governor bid, records indicate.
Gazette, Centennial Institute cosponsoring Republican gubernatorial debate Tuesday
The Gazette and the Centennial Institute are cosponsoring a Republican gubernatorial debate Tuesday at Colorado Christian University, featuring candidates state Rep. Scott Bottoms, a Colorado Springs pastor, and longtime GOP insider state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer. Candidates will field questions on major issues facing Colorado, including the economy, crime/public safety, state budget/TABOR, energy, infrastructure and affordability. […]
Denver Gazette, Centennial Institute cosponsoring Republican gubernatorial debate Tuesday
The Gazette The Denver Gazette and the Centennial Institute are cosponsoring a Republican gubernatorial debate Tuesday at Colorado Christian University, featuring candidates Scott Bottoms, a Colorado Springs pastor, and longtime GOP insider Barb Kirkmeyer. Candidates will field questions on major issues facing Colorado, including the economy, crime/public safety, state budget/TABOR, energy, infrastructure, and affordability. The […]
Political expert weighs in on Mike Duggan's withdrawal from Michigan gubernatorial race
Shah leads Democrats, Charles leads Republicans in new poll
The pollsters note that because Maine uses ranked choice voting in the gubernatorial primaries, voters’ second-choice preferences could determine the winner.
Democratic governor candidate Ethan Corson joins forces with Salina business director
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ethan Corson will run with Salina Chamber of Commerce president Renee Duxler as his running mate.
Trump ally Tommy Tuberville cruises to Alabama GOP governor nomination
Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville captures Alabama's GOP gubernatorial nomination, backed by Trump, as he seeks to succeed term-limited Gov. Kay Ivey.
Colin McEnroe (opinion): Peppa Pig invites mudslinging to CT politics
Peppa Pig contributes to Erin Stewart's downfall as a GOP gubernatorial candidate, allowing rival Ryan Fazio to hog the spotlight.
Colin McEnroe (opinion): Peppa Pig invites mudslinging to CT politics
Peppa Pig contributes to Erin Stewart's downfall as a GOP gubernatorial candidate, allowing rival Ryan Fazio to hog the spotlight.
Winners and losers of the CBS California gubernatorial debate
Candidates pile on the Democratic front-runner, Xavier Becerra, including a white-paper wielding Katie Porter. But nothing happened that's likely to shake up the race as it careens toward the finish. Some inspiration would help.
GOP candidates for governor align on energy, housing — and against Bobby Charles
All seven Republican gubernatorial candidates shared a stage for the first time in a televised debate ahead of the June 9 primary election.
The power players who might pick the next California governor
With less than a month to go until the California gubernatorial primary, candidates are hoping to land key endorsements from big political names.
KCCI hosts Iowa Republican gubernatorial debate Tuesday, May 19
KCCI will host a Republican Gubernatorial debate as part of its Commitment 2026 political coverage ahead of the June 2 primary.
Katie Porter and the politics of double standards
She might have faced sexist scrutiny, but her gubernatorial campaign has also struggled with political weaknesses unrelated to gender..
Pols & Politics: Massachusetts RNC members call on Shortsleeve to drop out of Republican primary
The two Massachusetts RNC members are calling on gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve to drop out of the GOP primary in order for the party to “unite” candidate Mike Minogue.
How MAGA Sheriff Chad Bianco is shaking up the 2026 California gubernatorial primary
Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco's says he will restore law and order to California if he is elected governor. Critics say his record proves otherwise.
WATCH: California Dems rally around healthcare for illegal immigrants during fiery debate
Every Democrat at this week's California gubernatorial debate that was asked, said they support healthcare coverage for illegal immigrants despite the state's budget woes.
Recruiting healthcare workers to New Mexico a top priority at candidates forum
Gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial hopefuls gathered for a panel hosted by the New Mexico Alliance of Health Councils.
Ramaswamy looks to put primary behind him and turn to expensive fall campaign for Ohio governor
Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy aims to put a long and sometimes unpleasant primary season behind him Tuesday
Pa. treasurer Stacy Garrity talks race for Pennsylvania governor
In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk speaks with Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity.
Joel Pollak: This could be a ‘profound political change’ in California
‘California Post’ opinion editor Joel Pollak analyzes the playing field of California’s gubernatorial candidates on ‘Fox News @ Night.’
Katie Porter's 'F*** Trump' email day after assassination attempt draws sharp rebuke: 'Degenerate loser'
California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter faces criticism for a donor email containing "F*** Trump" sent a day after a Trump assassination attempt.
Political expert Caroline Heldman discusses the California gubernatorial debate with Ryan Yamamoto
Why Republican Chris Dudley wants to be Oregon's next governor
In an interview with the Statesman Journal, Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Dudley said Oregon needs a \
Inside California Politics
(INSIDE CALIFORNIA POLITICS) — This week on Inside California Politics, political analysts Ed Emerson and Tim Rosales joined host Nikki Laurenzo to discuss the recent gubernatorial debate. Both ana…
Dems jockeying for Newsom endorsement give passing grades on issue that ignited 'poop map' crisis
Democratic candidates gave Newsom no lower than a B-minus on homelessness, drawing sharp criticism from Republicans at a California gubernatorial debate on Wendesday.
Xavier Becerra pressed on 'rumors' he knew about Eric Swalwell's alleged misconduct during CA governor debate
Xavier Becerra was pressed on his knowledge of Eric Swalwell's sexual misconduct rumors during a California gubernatorial debate Wednesday.
How low can Ohio go? The gubernatorial race might show us
Ohio governor candidates on the right seem determined to answer one question: How low can you go and still get elected?
GOP gubernatorial Bruce Blakeman promises tax relief for restaurants, small businesses as he blasts 'Hochul Special' tax crisis
Shaky political science: using "simulated" elections over real-world elections
[Dear DSOS readers – this article is the latest in our “Shaky Political Science” series. In our 38 page report, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting,” released in early December, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting. We found that many of these studies suffered from puzzling research methodologies, poorly constructed surveys, unrealistic simulated elections, cherry picked data, and faulty analyses that often were contradicted by results from real-world elections (a link to our full paper is here). Here are links to the first three articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report, the second one analyzing a study co-authored by University of Minnesota academic Larry Jacobs, which was one of the most error-prone of all the research we reviewed in our report, and a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research]. In this fourth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we shine a spotlight on seven studies that were web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group (the ERRG is an ad hoc committee headed by New America’s Political Reform Program and joined by the American Enterprise Institute, the Unite America Institute and Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law). This research consortium has been led by Lee Drutman, senior fellow with New America’s Political Reform Program. These seven studies are simply not credible from any objective standard about how political “science” is supposed to illuminate our understanding of either ranked choice voting or politics in general. The feature that six of these seven studies have in common is that they all used surveys – artificial, simulated elections -- to attempt to say something cogent or interesting about ranked choice voting (RCV) elections. None of them used real world data from actual RCV elections – either the 1000+ elections in the US or the many thousands of elections from places like Australia, Ireland and elsewhere where RCV has been used for 100 years. While a few of these studies conclude with some mixed positives about RCV, our analysis here is content neutral. The idea that, with a political reform like RCV, you can ask respondents in a mock, artificial election to vote with that method, with only the barest of explanation about how RCV works or its likely impacts (i.e. no spoiler candidates, majority winners, voters liberated to pick their favorite candidates, coalition-building), and then ask them their thoughts/reactions about voting in that system, with fake candidates and no real campaigning, no real exposure to an actual election or actual candidates, rests on some very puzzling assumptions. The findings of these seven studies actually are contradicted by the findings from many other studies based on real-world RCV elections. These New America studies also failed to list the real-world RCV studies in their own citations, instead including those studies that reinforced their conclusions. The seven studies featured in this article were chosen because they form a cohesive cohort which precisely illustrates one of the main points of our research paper, namely that using surveys, i.e. artificial elections, or mathematical/theoretical models, instead of real-world data, is in fact “shaky political science.” Below are summaries of our analysis of five of the seven New America studies. You can read our complete analysis of all seven studies at our paper, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting.” Choosing to “Vote As Usual” by Andre Blais, Carolina Plescia, and Semra Sevi. New America. (Blais et al., 2021). This study, web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group, used two surveys in which respondents completed ballots for simulated elections using plurality, approval, RCV and point (Score) voting. In both cases the authors provided the respondents with only minimal explanation of each method. For example, the entire explanation for RCV was “For this vote, rank the candidates from your first to your last choice (you do not need to rank them all). This is called the ranked vote.” That’s it. The study did not provide any context or explanation to survey respondents about why she/he might want to rank multiple candidates. Participants were not even told that ballots would be tabulated using an “instant” runoff, not to mention any description of RCVs ability to eliminate the spoiler effect or liberate voters to rank their favorite candidates without fear of helping the “greater evil” candidate to win. That’s like taking an iPhone back in time to 1970 and asking someone if they like it better than their rotary phone without explaining how it works. Their first survey targeted states that held 2020 Super Tuesday Democratic primaries and used the real candidates’ names in the survey; the second survey used fictitious candidates. In other words, they surveyed respondents who had only ever participated in plurality elections, had no history or background with using RCV or any of the other methods, had no clue about its likely impacts, and did not communicate how the alternative methods would be counted, and then asked them: “How satisfied are you with using each system?” Predictably, the winner was plurality elections, the system used for president, Congress, gubernatorial and state legislative elections – in other words, the method they have been using, year after year, all their voting lives. With so little explanation of RCV and its impacts, this study is simply not credible in discovering anything useful about real-world RCV elections. It merely shows that a basic voter education campaign is needed when adopting a new election system. Additionally, the result contradicts many other post-election surveys following real RCV elections, asking opinions from voters who had just participated in a RCV election, that showed a great deal of satisfaction with RCV (see details on that in Studies 22-25 in our paper, as well as the four studies cited in the review for Study 28). Share Other studies on “satisfaction” and “understanding” make similar mistakes, in terms of basing their surveys on inadequate explanation to respondents and lack of education about context. How could any survey ever hope to measure accurately, in essence simulate a real-world election, without actual campaigning candidates, the media writing about those candidates, organizations endorsing candidates and voters being inundated with crucial information? More than anything, what these “studies” based on surveys show is that if you ask voters about something they don’t know very much about, and fail to adequately educate them, their responses will unsurprisingly reflect their confusion. Equally puzzling is that New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group, headed by political scientist Lee Drutman, found this to be a credible enough study that they not only published it but highlighted it in Drutman’s own discussion of research related to ranked choice voting. This pattern was repeated in study after study featured by New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group. For example in Ranked-Choice Voting and Political Expression: Voter Guides Narrow the Gap between Informed and Uninformed Citizens by Cheryl Boudreau, Jonathan Colner, and Scott MacKenzie, the researchers based their analysis on a survey which found that respondents who were asked to vote in a simulated RCV election, with minimal explanation of RCV or how it works, displayed less evidence of being informed about how to use RCV effectively, with the least informed voters ranking fewer candidates. As pointed out under the study above, in a real election voters are informed by a wide variety of methods, including public education by the election administration, by interested political groups, the media, and the candidates themselves who benefit from voters being aware of how to vote in the new system. In Support for Ranked-Choice Voting across Race and Partisanship by Joseph Anthony, David C. Kimball, Jack Santucci and Jamil Scott, the researchers used respondents from different parties and races voting in simulated plurality and RCV elections, who indicated their satisfaction with each voting method. Instead of using real world election results, the authors fell back on the easy, armchair and less reliable academic research methodology of making up mock elections. As with the other studies, little explanation was given of how RCV works or what its implications might be (electing majority winners or eliminating spoilers, for example). Unsurprisingly, this study found that respondents were not very satisfied with RCV. However, when the authors added an explanation that RCV has a tendency to elect more women and people of color, they found that this greater explanation increased the preference for RCV. The more voters were familiar with it, and the more they understood potential positive impacts – surprise! -- the more they were open to switching away from the status quo. Of note, the results from this study are thoroughly contradicted by a number of other studies whose data was obtained from real RCV elections with real voters. Those studies show a great deal of satisfaction with RCV. More “fake election” research An interesting wrinkle on this “research by fake elections” approach, which only served to illustrate how unreliable such “research” can become, was taken in Ranked-Choice Voting, Runoff, and Democracy: Insights from Maine and Other U.S. States by Joseph Cerrone and Cynthia McClintock_,_ also web-hosted and funded by New America’s ERRG. It gets high marks for creativity, but an eye-roll for thinking this could possibly add anything meaningful to our understanding of real world RCV elections. This study tried to determine whether RCV, plurality or two-round runoff elections provided greater voter satisfaction and acceptance of election results. To determine that, the authors conducted a survey asking if voters were satisfied with a fictional newspaper report of an election, with three different versions given to respondents – plurality, runoff and RCV, with variations of Republican/Democrat winners and variations of “come-from-behind” winners,” i.e. candidates not initially in first place but who win the “runoff.” Again, a minimal explanation of RCV or how it works was given, and the survey showed that respondents had the greatest unfamiliarity with RCV than the other methods. The unsurprising result? Respondents were much more satisfied with “come-from-behind” victories in a traditional two-round runoff election than in RCV, even though RCV is also a runoff system but with a single round of counting. Interestingly, the dissatisfaction with RCV disappeared for those who were more familiar with RCV. In fact, among those respondents who were “very familiar” with RCV, they were equally satisfied with RCV, runoff and plurality. Surprise, surprise. Again, what this study revealed, more than anything, is not only the inadequacy of the explanation for RCV given by the authors of this study, but the failure of the research format itself, thinking that such an artificial mock election could somehow simulate what actually happens in the real world in a real RCV election. Those four studies reviewed above are fitting examples of inadequate and shaky political “science.” Other studies reviewed in our paper from the New America/Electoral Reform Research Group cohort which also used mock elections included: Ranked-Choice Voting is an Acquired Taste by Joseph Anthony and David C. Kimball. New America. (Anthony et al., 2021). Ranked-Choice Voting is No Refuge for Extreme Candidates by Melissa Baker. New America. (Baker, 2021). Also included in this New America cohort is Does Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Racial Polarization? by Yuki Atsusaka and Theodore Landsman, which actually did use real-world election results data but applied an odd and unconventional methodology to the data which relied on shaky assumptions and non-real-world scenarios that were too divorced from reality. To determine levels of “racially polarized voting,” the researchers imagined “ethnic parties,” by which they mean political parties for each ethnic group, which was especially odd since the election data they were using came from nonpartisan RCV races. But then they made an even odder assumption, namely that since race and ethnic characteristics of studied voters were not available, the authors tried to infer that information based on who voters selected and the racial make-up of voters in each district. This amounted to little more than vague and ambiguous guesswork dressed up with a bunch of mathematical equations used to give it a veneer of scientific appearance. Indeed, it seemed to assume racial polarization in order to prove racial polarization. Based on this questionable methodology, the authors concluded that RCV doesn’t reduce racial polarization. But the premise of this study missed an obvious reality: since RCV incentivizes more candidates to run and can result in more diverse fields of candidates, one would expect more racially-polarized voting in voters’ top rankings, not less, because more voters would have someone on that ballot who represents their racial or ethnic identity and more freedom to vote for their real first choice. By encouraging more diverse candidates and eliminating the spoiler effect, RCV facilitates voting for a favorite candidate of your own race and then selecting a second choice with the best likelihood of winning. The real measure is what voters do with their additional rankings – do they consider other candidates and vote “for the best of the rest”? This study didn’t tell us anything useful about that. But readily available data shows this is common in real RCV elections, and candidates act on this knowledge by engaging with voters outside their racial group. So the authors of this study failed to consider or account for what actually happens in real-world elections, and their conclusions are tainted by this failure. New America has contributed a great deal over the past 2.5 decades to our understanding of many policy areas, including politics and political reform (full disclosure: Steven Hill, one of the authors of this article and of the “Shaky Political Science” research paper and series, is a former senior fellow and former director of New America’s political reform program, 2005-2010). So it was especially disappointing that New America funded and published such a large batch of dubious studies about ranked choice voting. The stated praiseworthy goal of its Electoral Reform Research Group was to inspire new academic research about ranked choice voting that would shed light and help the public better understand the impacts of RCV. Instead, the ERRG research did just the opposite. It produced dubious research that created more confusion and misinformation. In so doing, New America’s political reform program contributed to “shaky political science.” Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS, a reader-supported digital portal for the pro-democracy movement. Subscribe for only $5 per month to receive full benefits and to support our work. Subscribe
Lee signs TennCare gender transition ban: Week in Politics
Gov. Lee signs a law banning TennCare coverage for gender transitions and Andrew Yang's Forward Party endorses a gubernatorial candidate.
This week in SC politics: Governor candidates itching to debate
GOP leaders have finalized who will make the cut for the upcoming Republican gubernatorial debate — a decision that could shape the race before many voters fully tune in ahead of the June primary.
6 candidates confirmed for next week’s Inside California Politics California governor’s debate
(KRON/NEXSTAR) — The six candidates who have qualified for the Inside California Politics California gubernatorial debate on KRON4 next week have been confirmed. Following the collapse of for…
California Democrats can’t decide on a governor. Don’t count on Newsom or Pelosi for help
Even with Rep. Eric Swalwell’s downfall, California Democrats face a glut of gubernatorial options. Party heavyweights won’t save the day.
How Swalwell’s exit — and Trump’s entrance — reset the California governor’s race
In the muddled California gubernatorial race, Democrats are simultaneously growing more confident and more uncertain.