It wouldn’t be election season without a bunch of big-money interests trying to tell you how to vote. This year, with hundreds of millions of dollars rolling into initiative campaigns over housing and health care, California has hit a new record.

The $111 million campaign against Proposition 8 on kidney dialysis clinics amounts to the most money poured into a single side of a ballot measure in the United States—at least since electronic record-keeping began in 2002, and possibly ever.

Here are three industries spending huge sums to influence your vote:

This video lists all the amazing ways the two party system has rigged elections against third party and independent candidates this year.

DENVER, COLO. - There are a lot of ballot measures to consider this year. And I know all too well how overwhelming it can be to keep up with all of the rhetoric about each issue.

But two stand out to me as simply making sense for Colorado.

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.

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. - The most contentious fight over a ballot proposition can often times be over the language of the proposition itself. Supporters and opponents won't be completely satisfied, and it can lead to the spread of misinformation and confusion among voters.

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.

San Diego, CALIF.- 49 signups.

That's the result of the City of San Francisco's effort to register non-citizen voters for local board of education races.

The 49 signups come to about $6,326 per sign up.

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.