Whether you call him traitor, whistle-blower, or don't have much of an opinion of him at all, Edward Snowden has become a major thorn in the side of the United States government. The leaked documents detailing the extent of NSA data collection and surveillance programs has embarrassed the national intelligence community, the Obama administration, and has outraged many Americans and world leaders.

The integrity of an election is equally, if not more, important than the outcome. If voters have no confidence in how their vote was counted, do the results matter? Do you know how your vote will be counted this November?

Of the 35 senate seats

up for grabs in 2014, the one currently held by Max Baucus (D-MT) promises to be a barn burner. Pundits speculate that Republicans have an opportunity to regain control of the Senate and with an open seat for the taking, the Montana Senate race will be highly competitive. Baucus has been tapped by President Obama to be the new U.S. Ambassador to China.

Senator Rand Paul's avid libertarian supporters view him as a philosopher statesman with a robust and nuanced understanding of government. His more progressive critics argue that Paul is an old fossil representing outdated and discredited ideas.

Either way, Rand Paul's 2016 presidential ambitions continue to strengthen, especially in the wake of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's recent "Bridgegate" scandal.

On Tuesday, January 21, news released that majority leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) had enough support from Democratic colleagues to become the new speaker of the California General Assembly. This means Atkins will succeed John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles) and increase the influence Southern California has in the California Legislature.

I majored in English. Three times. And for thirteen years I had to fend off the question, “what are you going to do with that?” The truth is, I didn’t really know. It didn’t seem important at the time. I liked reading books and writing about them, and I read the paper every day looking for examples of English majors starving to death. None ever did, so I was pretty sure that I was always going to find a way to eat.

And I did.

Everybody loves a good competition. The upcoming election in California’s 52nd congressional district is likely to be a close one. With the candidate filing deadline only a month away, Democratic incumbent

Scott Peters is preparing to defend his position from Republican challenger Carl Demaio. Many will recognize Demaio as the candidate who lost the San Diego mayoral election to Bob Filner just over a year ago.

Democrats have to maintain yet another open seat in Congress after Iowa U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D), announced that he would not seek re-election in 2014. The move has brought a flurry of potential GOP nominees with the intention of taking the seat from the Democrats.

Harkin announced his retirement in January 2013, claiming that his age, 81, was the main reason for his departure. A Democrat with a staunchly liberal voting record, Harkin has been in the Senate since 1985.