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.

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. - Halloween evolved from the ancient Celtic celebration of Samhain (pronounced sow-in), when it was believed that the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred and the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. While the tradition has radically changed over the years, we now celebrate something similar on the second Tuesday of November every even year: Election Day.

WICHITA, KAN. - The three candidates in the Kansas governor's election shared the same stage Tuesday during the KSNT gubernatorial debate. During the debate, independent candidate Greg Orman called out what he sees as corruption in the Kansas government, saying politicians have "sold our government."

The discussion came up after moderators played one of his TV ads:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlYl79pw9DE

As the inked dried on the new opioid fighting-bill, SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, tech leaders offered to pledge their support to help stop an opioid epidemic that killed more than 48,000 Americans in 2017.

The law expands access to drug treatment and prevention programs across federal agencies and moves to block shipments of drugs such as opioids and the very dangerous fentanyl from entering the country.