Every election year, the Kansas State Fair is the primary platform for candidates running for state and federal offices to debate in a public, neutral environment -- and often with very large, energetic crowds.

But this year, there's a twist in the debate schedules after a very expensive Republican primary, costing over $5 million, in the 1st U.S. congressional district.

The incumbent tea party darling, Tim Huelskamp, was defeated by Roger Marshall in a bitter fight over Huelskamp's various 'disruption' tactics used throughout his tenure.

As IVN recently reported, the lawsuit filed by the Green and Libertarian parties arguing that the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) violated anti-trust laws was dismissed in federal court. Fortunately, the lawsuit to open the debates filed by Level the Playing Field (the successor to Americans Elect) and Peter Ackerman – joined by the Green and Libertarian parties – is still very much alive.

In what has been an election year unlike any other, things could become even more unusual. As we head toward the presidential debates, is it possible that we will see 3 candidates on the stage, not only 2? Let’s give it a reality check.

Dear Superdelegate,

You may be a Congress member, a governor, a mayor, a party official or a president, but two weeks ago at the Democratic National Convention you did something that I and millions of others have done in the last six months: you voted to have a say in deciding who will lead this great and mighty nation over the next few years.

Some Republicans and organizations within the #NeverTrump movement reignited efforts to remove Donald Trump from the GOP presidential ticket Wednesday. Free the Delegates PAC, which worked to unbind GOP delegates during the 2016 Republican National Convention, announced in a press release that it will be working to recall Trump’s nomination under RNC rules.

Tuesday's piece on the growing momentum of both Jill Stein (Green Party) and Gary Johnson (Libertarian) among younger voters is a positive sign for both campaigns.

According to recent polls, approximately 4 in 10 Millennial voters say they would support either Libertarian presidential candidate Gov. Gary Johnson or Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein. The popularity of alternative options outside the Republican and Democratic parties increases the possibility that there might be three, maybe four lecterns on the fall presidential debate stage.

Not since 2008 has the Libertarian Party been this active in Kansas politics, with a candidate challenging all four congressional districts, the Senate seat, and the presidency in the same election year -- and 2016 may in fact turn out to be a record year for minor party and independent candidates.

While it is debatable whether Americans largely approve of joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) – the massive free trade agreement comprising 11 other countries -- it is undeniable that the presidential candidates are responding to Americans' concerns about economic insecurity in staking out their positions on the dea

In Illinois' 13th district, one candidate is suing over the constitutionality of the onerous signature requirements for independent candidates.