Editor's note: this article was co-authored by Cathy Stewart (introduction) and Caroline Donnola (main article).

Imagine if Bernie didn't have to run as a Democrat.

Thanks to California's non-partisan primary, the Our Revolution endorsed Gayle McLaughlin can.

Why?

Because in California, (except for the presidential race), the rules are the same for every candidate and voter, regardless of party.

Byline Note: This article was co-written by Harry Kresky, general counsel for Independent Voting, and Wayne Griffin, chairman of the SC Independence Party and Greer City Councilmember.

T  he South Carolina Republican Party is asking voters on primary day to weigh in on whether voters “believe they should have the option to choose to affiliate with a political party when they register to vote. …”

This “advisory” vote seems innocent enough. Until you take a closer look.

In a wide-ranging interview with IVN San Diego, the President & CEO of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association Haney Hong, made clear his feelings about the push to implement government controlled energy, also known as Community Choice Aggregation or CCAs.

The taxpayers watchdog says the implementation of this new energy strategy is half-baked and could very well put the City of San Diego's financial future at risk.

California Insurance Commissioner candidate Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, is pushing his new bill, SB 174, to amend existing state law that would allow the appointment of any resident over the age of 18 to a civil office regardless of citizenship or immigration status.

Another election season, another increasingly bizarre redrawing of the electoral map. In states across the U.S., voting districts are elongated and chopped, stretched like taffy to cover certain state regions and amputated to avoid others.

All these calculations and measurements work to ensure that our democratic system of government doesn’t function the way it is intended. The process of redrawing favorable district lines — affectionately termed “gerrymandering” — is an unfortunate outgrowth of our nation’s electoral system.

It was announced last week that the president’s nominee for Secretary of the VA, Dr. Ronny Jackson was withdrawing from consideration amid a slew of accusations of misconduct.

A Michigan ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana received enough valid signatures to qualify for a vote in November.

When the required number of ballot signatures was certified by the State Board of Canvassers, the 4-0 decision of the board was met by cheers from supporters of the initiative who were present, the Detroit Free Press reports.

Did you participate in the National Week of Conversation?

The Bridge Alliance, along with 100 sponsoring organizations, community organizers, elected officials, and more, held hundreds of events -- public, online, and private -- in cities across the country from April 20-28 with one goal in mind: Put partisan bickering aside, mend divides, and have meaningful conversations about the biggest issues facing the country.

The battle over data privacy is heating up in California as opposition to a data privacy measure is growing.

AT&T, Google and Facebook are leading the opposition to the California Consumer Privacy Act.

"DON'T DISCONNECT CALIFORNIA"