To those of us who made our bones in the Democratic politics of the 1980s and the 1990s, the arguments between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton about the future of the Democratic Party and the mechanics of winning general elections sound familiar, with one camp obsessed with white swing voters, […] Read more »
Why are so many Democrats and Republicans pretending to be independents?
In their new book, “Independent Politics,” political scientists Samara Klar and Yanna Krupnikov unpack one of the more important trends in the U.S. electorate: why the percentage of Americans calling themselves “independent” continues to rise, even though partisanship is stronger than ever. They answered some questions via email. CONT. John […] Read more »
California: The Key Facts Behind Clinton, Trump State Leads
That Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are leading their respective presidential contests in California, according to the latest PPIC poll, is not surprising: what is noteworthy is how significantly the Democratic race appears to be affected by independents who are permitted to vote in that contest. CONT. Calbuzz Read more »
A one-party state without the rancor
It is ironic that California, home of the far-right John Birch Society and such liberal bastions as Berkeley and Santa Monica, is drifting to the political center, even as national politics is lurching both left and right. It remains to be seen, however, whether this is another instance of the […] Read more »
Undeclared in New Hampshire: ‘I Might Be Able to Bring Trump and Cruz Down’
After hours of deliberation and debate, Joleen Little had narrowed down her choice for president in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday to two candidates — a liberal Democrat and a conservative Republican. Yes, that’s right. Two candidates from opposite political parties. … Ms. Little belongs to a highly coveted […] Read more »
The Rise of Independents and the Weakening of the Two-Party System
The two candidates for their party nominations who are drawing the biggest crowds, drawing fervent enthusiasm from their supporters, and seem to be driving the political conversation are running against the establishment. Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump are both basically independents seeking a nod from the incumbent parties. Add to […] Read more »