https://soundcloud.com/independent-voter-podcast/calmatters-dan-walters-talks-november-election

San Diego, CALIF.- California Democrats had supermajorities in 2014 and 2016, only to lose them the next year.

Now, with Gavin Newsom in line to take Jerry Brown's seat, and record setting campaign contributions, there is a very real possibility Democrats will once again have all the power in California.

Considering how deep blue California has gone, concerns are surfacing about appropriate checks and balances in Sacramento.

Questions abound as the 2018 midterms draw closer.
Will the much-discussed “blue wave” give Democrats a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives? Or perhaps a pink wave that will boost the historic underrepresentation of women.Will excitement surrounding close contests translate strong turnout? Will misguided attacks on voting rights prevail?Much will remain undecided until after the polls close on November 6.

The big news coming out of Florida recently was Hurricane Michael. After developing quickly and moving fast, it roared ashore as a strong Category 4 storm. Although my hometown was in the bull’s eye from the beginning, and it never deviated from its projected path, the intensity took many by surprise. It was a harrowing experience, and the effects were catastrophic.

Nineteen days later, and while there is still a long road to recovery, power has been restored to most homes and businesses and early voting began on Saturday, October 27, at five mega-voting sites in Bay County.

Voters looking to move away from partisan histrionics and the impotence of “politics as usual” have solid alternatives to Democrats and Republicans in this year’s midterm elections.

In Missouri and Maryland, there are candidates for the U.S. Senate who present a clear vision of what “Country Over Party” means, with unique insight into how a recent surge in nonpartisan political activity can affect our elections, now and into the future.

Many commentators have disparaged the thoughts and prayers of people of faith in this country in the aftermath of a highly publicized rampage killing. I understand that they are frustrated with what they perceive as an unacceptably negligent legislative response to these events. In the tragedy of the moment they want immediate and decisive action from legislators to prevent future tragedies.

San Diego, CALIF.- County Registrar Michael Vu has sent IVN San Diego the current absentee ballot numbers.

Here is the breakdown:

Total Ballots Returned:  371,719

141,799   38.1%  (DEM)

134,833  36.2% (REP)

78,475    21.1%   (No Party Preference)

NPP voter turnout is a little more than 20% which, if it holds, would be a larger percentage turnout than the 2016 presidential election.

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. - It is nearly impossible for a candidate to run, and win, as an independent in most states. Without a party infrastructure, candidates have little to no support structure, including party member communications, party campaign finance advantages, and perhaps most importantly, the benefit of an almost universally accepted axiom: only a Republican or a Democrat can actually win.