Political Parties, Elections and Campaigns

1. Political Parties, Elections and Campaigns California Government Chapter 9

2. Connecting Citizens to Government • In a representative democracy, political institutions linkcitizens to politics: • Elections • Political Parties • Through elections, people hold their representative accountable by rewarding representatives they approve of with re-election and punishing representatives they disapprove of by electing their opponents • Through parties, group conflicts are managed; diverse interests are aggregated; candidates can be identified with a political agenda & also held accountable for their views and actions

3. Californians are skeptical of linkage institutions • Skeptical of Elections • Majorities believe they make better decisions than government officials • But, only 44% trust their fellow citizens to make good public policy decisions at the ballot box* • Skeptical of Parties • More and more voters are not affiliating with a major political party; more than 20% today “decline to state” a party when registering to vote • 75% believe that state government is run by a few big interests* * Source: Mark Baldassare, et al “Californians and Their Government,” Public Policy Institute of California, Dec. 2010.

4. California: A Weak Party State • Democrats dominate the legislature and more people are registered as Democrats than any other party • However: • Less than a majority are registered Democrats • 20% are Independent, and that category is growing • 7 of 10 would prefer not be registered with a party* • Historically, Progressive “anti-party” elections laws sought to loosen political party control over elections: • Direct Democracy • Secret Ballots • Cross-filing from 1910s – 1950s • Direct Primaries • Nonpartisan local elections • Still, parties organize government * Source: Mark Baldassare, “California’s Post-Partisan Future,” Public Policy Institute of California, January 2008, 2.

5. California Registration February 10, 2013

6. Who can register to vote? • Qualifications • U.S. Citizen • California Resident • At least 18 years old on Election Day • Not found by a court to be mentally incompetent • Not in State Prison or on Parole for a State Felony • People may register and vote if they are in county jail or on probation for a county conviction • Use this link to register to vote: • http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm

7. Three Parts of a Party • How does one define a political party? • Parties have different functions, and 3 different dimensions of a party can be identified. 1. Party in the Electorate (PIE): • Refers to members who share similar beliefs about the role that government should play in their lives • Refers to the generalized sentiment a party’s members share about what it means to be a Republican, Democrat, or member of any other party

8. 1. Party in the Electorate (PIE) DEMOCRATS REPUBLICANS Tend to be: ethnically diverse (54% White) low-to-middle income bracket Younger Female: Women outnumber men Most lean liberal or hold liberal views: • Tolerate higher taxes for more government services • Want government to promote equality • Favor greater access to healthcare • Favor same-sex marriage • More responsive to labor unions • Favor looser immigration laws • Favor steps to curb global warming Tend to be: White (82%) Higher income bracket Older Male: Men slightly outnumber women 3 out of 4 are “conservative”*: • Against taxes • Favor strictly limited government • Want government to stay out of health care • More responsive to business • Oppose same-sex marriage • Oppose abortion • Favor strong anti-immigration laws • Oppose steps to curb global warming * Source: Mark Baldassare, “California’s Post-Partisan Future,” Public Policy Institute of California, January 2008.

9. 1. Party in the Electorate (PIE) • Individuals often develop attachment to one of the major parties • Family tradition • School • Work, Marriage • Ethnic support of parties • Whites about equally Democratic or Republican • Blacks, Hispanics and Asians more Democratic • Gender and Marriage • Women more likely than men to support Dems • Married individuals more likely than unmarried to support Reps

10. Ethnicity and Voting 2012

11. Ethnicity and Voting field poll 2435(PIE) • Ethnic voters had a major impact on the 2012 election • From 1994 to 2012 the state added about 3.5 million voters, of those about 3 million have been ethnic voters (Hispanics, Asians, Blacks) • In 2012 a majority of ethnic voters supported Obama and Prop 30 and a majority of white voters opposed Obama and Prop 30 • Ethnic voters have been becoming more Democratic, Democratic positions ethnics support: • Many Hispanics support path to citizenship • Many ethnics support active government (for example Obamacare) • Younger ethnic voters tend to be more liberal than older ethnic voters (e.g. support gay marriage, legal pot)

12. Three Parts of a Party 2. Party in Government (PIG) • Elected officials help build their party’s “brand name” through lawmaking, speeches and other activities • The purpose of parties: organize government in order to achieve their policy aims • The party in government is made up of the Governor and other statewide officials, California representatives and US representatives

13. Three Parts of a Party 2. Party in Government (PIG) • At the state level the two major parties in California are strongly ideologically polarized • Republican elected officials are strongly conservative, they oppose raising taxes and government spending • Democratic elected officials are liberal, willing to raise taxes and spend money to support government programs

14. Three Parts of a Party 2. Party in Government (PIG) • Elections tend to be uncompetitive (between the parties), based on: • Natural “sorting”: people tend to live near others like themselves, so many areas are dominated by one party • In the past: “gerrymandering” favored incumbents and the majority party

15. Three Parts of a Party 3. Party Organizations (PO) • A party’s organizational bodies, including conventions, and its rules: • State Central Committee • County Central Committee • Regional volunteer clubs • Parties help: nominate candidates for election and get them elected

16. Three Parts of a Party 3. Party Organizations (PO) • Decentralized Structures • The state central committees and the county central committees have no power over elected officials, they support the elected officials, they do not direct them • The national party has no control over the state party • Lack of Patronage • Parties do not have jobs or work contracts to give out to supporters • Role in Campaign Finance • Parties can be influential in coordinating contributions to party supported candidates

17. Political Parties in California Major Political Parties • The Democratic Party of California • The Republican Party of California • All partisan offices are won by individuals from these two parties

18. Minor Parties • Libertarian • Usually at least some statewide candidates • Green • Environmentalist • Peace and Freedom • Very left-wing • American Independent • Very right-wing • Americans Elect – probably one-time in 2012 • These minor parties never win partisan elections • A very small number of Libertarians and Greens win non-partisan elections

19. An important features of California’s Political Landscape • East-west divide is prominent • Coastal regions are heavily liberal to moderate and trend Democratic, and inland counties are much more conservative and strongly Republican • Makes drawing competitive districts difficult • Citizens, residents, and voters are not the same groups of people • Some of these groups (voters) make decisions for the others (non-voters, those ineligible to vote)

20. The Divide: Coastal-Inland (West-East)

21. Elections in California: Recent Reforms • Rules often change through voter-approved initiatives • Recent electoral changes and consequences: • Term limits for state officials: turnover for offices is high; open seats are common; competition is higher for all types of offices • Has led to less experienced representatives • Has resulted in more frequent special elections to fill seats vacated by ambitious individuals moving up the political ladder • Incumbents still elected at high rates

22. Vote by Mail and Early Voting • Anyone can request a vote by mail ballot • Anyone can request to have permanent Absentee Voter Status • If you are permanent absentee then a vote by mail ballot will be mailed to you for each election • Many counties (including Los Angeles) allow early voting at designated locations • Rise of “vote by mail” (55% in 2012)

23. Elections in California: Recent Reforms • New primary election system started 2011: “Top two” primary elections: any voter can vote for a candidate from any party in the June primary (also called an “open primary”) • All candidates from all parties appear on the June primary ballot • Candidates can choose whether their party is listed on the ballot or not • Regardless of vote percentage won, the Top Two candidates in each race advance to the general election in November • Goal of the Top Two system is to elect more moderate, less ideological politicians • Presidential primaries do not use Top Two, they are closed to voters registered with other parties

24. Elections in California: Recent Reforms • District maps for 2012-2020 created by a new Citizens Redistricting Commission • Goal of this reform was to take the job of drawing maps away from the state legislature so politicians would no longer draw their own districts • Maps for CA Assembly, CA Senate, CA Board of Equalization and US Congress • Two reforms aimed at increasing voter participation • Initiatives will only be voted on in general elections (or in special elections) • Online voter registration

25. Campaigning in California • Incumbents are in “permanent campaign” mode • Big donors to candidates believe they are buying “access” to the politician • Campaign contributions and expenses must be reported to the Fair Political Practices Commission • Independent spending (spending by outside groups) is rising, due to US Supreme Court decision Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

26. Campaigning in California • Huge sums typically needed to reach residents spread across large areas, or densely populated (and expensive) media markets • Elections are competitive and costly; open seats can cost much more than these averages: • Average ASSEMBLY race: $750,000 • Average SENATE race: $1,000,000

27. Campaign Management Firms • “Air War” Politics in California • Campaigns depend less on direct person-to-person contact and more on radio, TV and direct mail advertisements • Credible campaigns in California are run by campaign consultants • First campaign consultants: Whitaker and Baxter in the 1930’s • Husband and wife team that developed the basic model of campaign management firms; ran very negative campaign against Upton Sinclair in 1934 governor’s race

28. Elections: Partisan and Non-Partisan • A Partisan Election is one in which candidates can list their party (less than 1% of California elected offices are partisan, but they are the most powerful offices): • Federal Offices • State Legislature • Statewide Executive Offices (except Superintendent of Public Instruction) • Non-Partisan Elections are those in which a candidate cannot list a political party (a progressive reform) • State Superintendent of Public Instruction • Judges • All Local Offices (county, city, school board)

29. Statewide Election Calendar: Even Years • The Primary (early June) • Voters choose top-two in Partisan offices • Some (State and Local) Non-Partisan Elections • The General Election (early November) • Partisan top-two run-off • Some (State and Local) Non-Partisan Runoff Elections • Some Local Elections • Ballot Measures • Special elections: Recalls • Special elections: called by the governor

30. Local Elections • Local elections are often held on dates different from statewide elections so they will not be overshadowed by statewide elections • For example the city of Los Angeles has a non-partisan March primary and May run-off in odd years • This can result in voters in some areas voting twice a year every year, which can result in “voter fatigue”

31. 2010 Elections • Elections 2010: Governor, other state executives, State Leg, US Congress, Props • June 2010 partisan primaries (old style), incumbents won • Nov 2010 general election • Gov: Jerry Brown (D), all state-wide executive offices won by Democrats, state legislature: most incumbents won, US Congress: incumbents won • Props Passed: Prop 25 end 2/3 requirement to pass budget and Prop 26 add requirement of 2/3 vote for fees • Props Failed: legalize pot; temporarily eliminate greenhouse gas law

32. 2012 Elections • Elections 2012 • Primary June 5th • First widespread use of “top two” primary system for State Legislature and U.S. Congress • New District Boundaries • Democratic and GOP presidential primaries wrapped up by Obama and Romney before CA got to vote • General Election November 6th • Presidential election in CA: Obama (60%), Romney (37%) • Initiatives passed in November: Prop 30: temporarily raise taxes to fund education, Prop 36: requires “3rd strike” to be violent or felony, Prop 39: new way to calculate multi-state business tax, money collected to go for clean energy

33. 2013 and 2014 Elections • Elections 2013 • Los Angeles City Election • Primary Election for Mayor and half of city council March 5, 2013, top two Eric Garcetti (33%) and Wendy Gruel (29%), rest 38% • Run off Election for Mayor of Los Angeles May 21, 2013 won by Eric Garcetti (54%) over Wendy Gruel (46%) • Elections 2014 • Election for Governor and other statewide officials • State Legislature, US Congress, Initiatives in Nov. only • Local elections including Los Angeles County Supervisors