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It's not often a Secretary of State so blatantly endorses one of the two major parties, but that's the midterm mania in Alabama.

Secretary of State John Merrill has certainly raised eyebrows in the Heart of Dixie with his ringing endorsement of the GOP, in fact, Merrill begs voters to go "all red" on midterm Tuesday.

San Diego, Calif.- Three recent polls show independent candidate for Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner continuing to lead Democrat Ricardo Lara.

Poizner leads Lara on average 44.5% to 38.7%. He's doing it with NPP voters, as well as Republican voters. Poizner is the overwhelming choice for the GOP. According to the Berkeley poll, it's to the tune of 86%.

If he wins, Poizner would be the first NPP candidate to win statewide office in California.

In this episode of Deconstructed, TJ O’Hara sits down with Joe Trippi, Democratic strategist, author, and political commentator. Trippi has worked on some challenging campaigns, like Howard Dean, Ted Kennedy, and now, Ammar Campa-Najjar in California’s 50th Congressional District. The two “deconstruct” the shifting campaign climate, the challenges in his current campaign, and the impact of social media on campaigns.

Amid all the divisive ugliness inside the Beltway, here is some good news: 2018 may well be the best year in a half century for election reform. Today’s narrative laments a crumbling democracy, alienated voters, and a political culture spiraling ever downward.

While true, that narrative is incomplete. It misses the remarkable energy building across many states to confront these problems, shore up our democracy, and rebuild our political culture.

San Diego, Calif.- California may be considered a one-party state, but within its chambers are some legislators who don’t take marching orders from either party’s leadership.

And they’re effective.

Below, we take a look at 8 of California’s most independent-minded legislators, and why the Democratic Party is hoping that a “blue wave” crashes on some of their seats:

*Note - "Juror Andy's" name and voice have been modified for their protection

"I used to like Bonnie Dumanis, but ever since that trial I view her as a very dishonest person." ~ Juror Andy

San Diego, Calif.- Two years ago a jury convicted billionaire businessman Jose Susumo Azano of making illegal campaign contributions of about $600,000 in San Diego local elections.

Azano is serving a 3 year prison sentence.

U.S. Representative and former DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz may be facing the political fight of her career to keep her U.S. House seat in Florida's congressional delegation -- and neither the media, the pollsters, nor the partisan elite will see it coming.

Buoyed by Republicans, independents, and liberal Democrats who are disenchanted with the business-as-usual politics in Washington that Wasserman Schultz has come to represent, independent candidate Tim Canova is in a statistical dead heat with Wasserman Schultz for an election day victory next week.

AUGUSTA, MAINE - It was announced this week that Hillary Clinton stepped into the Maine gubernatorial race to endorse Democratic nominee Janet Mills. Just a week before the election, the partisan political machine is churning harder to what could end up being a tight race on Election Day.

The reason? Clinton announced several new endorsements in high-profile, tight races nationwide, including an endorsement for Michigan Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer, about which she said:

In 2018's midterm election, California voters will be choosing between a Republican and another Republican or a Democrat and another Democrat in ten California midterm election races, including three statewide races: for U.S. Senate, Lt. Governor, and Superintendent of Public Instruction.

San Diego, Calif.- In a very quiet manner, the San Diego City Council approved payments and legal settlements to sixteen exotic dancers without discussion on the city council’s consent agenda Tuesday.

The council approved a $1,492,500 payment to the dancers and attorneys who claimed the officers harassed and violated the dancers civil rights.