Something Different: Voting in 2017
Voting isn't different in 2017, this post is!
What is this and why is it important?
We want to encourage everyone to be able to get informed and be involved in the political process. This blog may be a tracker of things happening in the government, but it's important to remember: things won't change if we don't get involved.
Elections of some sort are happening all the time. Governors, attorney generals, sheriffs, local and state ballot measures, and occasionally, special elections for Congressional seats (and so many more). It's important to be aware of what's going on in your state (and your city and county), and not just pay attention to Presidential elections every 4 years. These local and state elections affect you too, possibly even more than the Presidential election does.
So, below the break, you'll find the Special Elections and State Executive Branch elections for 2017. We focused on these as there are probably too many ballot measures to include in this one list. The states that have an election fitting this criteria this year are Kansas, Georgia, Montana, California, South Carolina, New Jersey, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
If this post is well received, we might start a series about State elections and include some of the ballot measures. We'll also try to keep up to date with changes, and as we head towards 2018, include what's what then. However, if you would not like to see more of this kind of post, we can do that too. Let us know!
Where'd we get this information from? This information was collected from Ballotpedia, a non-profit, nonpartisan "encyclopedia of American politics and Elections". It is, in short, a comprehensive guide dedicated to election coverage. Ballotpedia has a Twitter (@ballotpedia), and a Tumblr (@ballotpedia), though it looks not-frequently used.
Wait, I don’t live in one of those states. What can I do? Well, you can spread the word about the candidates you like or dislike to friends, family, or followers that live in those states. Or volunteer time or donate money to a campaign (if it’s allowed for out of state donations). Most importantly, the intent is to inform people of what’s going on around the United States political sphere.
Alright, here we go! These are ordered by list, and in each list by Election Date.
115th United States Congress: Special Elections
What is a special election?
A special election held when a legislator resigns or is otherwise removed from office (impeached, death, or appointed to another position within State or Federal government). States allow for special elections to fill the missing space, either within the year or the following calendar year, depending on state law.
In order to vote in these elections, you must be a resident of the proper area, and be registered to vote. Be sure to check out your state's registration rules.
Kansas
Position: 4th District Representative
Election Date: April 11, 2017
Who Can Vote? Residents of Kansas' 4th District
Who's the Prior Incumbent? Mike Pompeo (R)
Why'd He Leave? He was nominated and confirmed as the CIA Director for the Trump Administration
Who's Running?
Ron Estes (R)
Jim Thompson (D)
Chris Rockhold (I)
Georgia
Position: 6th District Representative
Election Date: April 18, 2017
Who Can Vote? Residents of Georgia's 6th District
Who's the Prior Incumbent: Tom Price (R)
Why'd He Leave? He was nominated and confirmed as the Secretary of Health and Human Services for the Trump Administration
Who's Running?
Democrat
Jon Ossoff - Managing director and CEO of Insights TWI
Ossoff is the current popular forerunner for Democrat
Rebecca Quigg - Doctor
Ron Slotin - Former state senator
Ragin Edwards
Richard Keatley - Former U.S. Navy officer
Republican
David Abroms - Certified public accountant
Mohammad Ali Bhuiyan - Small business owner
Keith Grawert - Air Force pilot
Bob Gray - Businessman
Karen Handel - Former Georgia Secretary of State
Judson Hill - State Sen.
Amy Kremer
Bruce LeVell - Head of Donald Trump’s national diversity coalition
William Llop - Certified public accountant
Dan Moody - Former state sen.
Kurt Wilson - Businessman
Third Party
Alexander Hernandez (Independent)
Andre Pollard (Independent)
Montana
Position: At-Large Representative
What's "At-Large" mean? Montana only has one district encompassing the entire state. This is called an "At-Large" district.
Election Date: May 25, 2017
Who Can Vote? Residents of Montana
Who's the Prior Incumbent? Ryan Zinke (R)
Why'd He Leave? He was nominated and confirmed as the Secretary of Interior for the Trump Administration
Who's Running?
Greg Gianforte (R)
Rob Quist (D)
Mark Wicks (I)
California
Position: 34th District Representative
Election Date: June 6, 2017
Who Can Vote? Residents of California's 34th District
Who's the Prior Incumbent? Xavier Becerra (D)
Why'd He Leave? He was appointed to California Attorney General to fill the vacancy there
Who's Running? We don't know yet
South Carolina
Position: 5th District Representative
Election Date: June 20, 2017
Who Can Vote? Residents of South Carolina's 5th District
Who's the Prior Incumbent? Mick Mulvaney (R)
Why'd He Leave? He was nominated and confirmed as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget for the Trump Administration
Who's Running? We don't know yet
2017 State Executive Positions
What's this?
State executive elections do not always coincide with the federal government. Additionally, some states hold elections for some positions that are appointed positions in other states.
Wisconsin
Position: Superintendent of Public Instruction
A Superintendent of Public Instruction is a state equivalent to the Secretary of Education
It is a Non-Partisan role, though candidates are allowed to have political leanings
Election Date: April 4, 2017
Who Can Vote? Residents of Wisconsin
Who's the Prior Incumbent? Tony Evers
What Should I Know About This?
Evers is seeking re-election, and has led for 2 previous terms.
One candidate, conservative-leaning Lowell Holtz, is under scrutiny for potentially being part of an ethics violation for an election bribe. The Ethics Commission has declared the event as not being a bribe, however.
Who's Running?
Tony Evers (Incumbent)
Lowell Holtz
New Jersey
Position:
Governor and Lt. Governor
New Jersey holds a joint ticket for Governor and Lt. Governor, similar to a President/Vice President ticket
Election Date: November 7, 2017
Who Can Vote? Residents of New Jersey
Who's the Prior Incumbent? Chris Christie (R)
What Should I Know About This?
Christie can no longer seek re-election as he has hit the term limit maximum.
New Jersey's governorship has been determined to be a vulnerable position for the Republican Party.
Vulnerable means the sitting party has a strong chance to lose to an opposition party
In the 2016 Presidential Election, New Jersey went to Hillary Clinton (D) with 55.45% of the vote
Who's Running?
We don't know the final candidates yet, but many people have declared their running as of this posting
Democrat
Bill Brennan - Political activist and former firefighter
Bob Hoatson - Former teacher and priest
Jim Johnson - Former undersecretary of the U.S. Treasury, Clinton administration
Ray Lesniak - State senator
Phil Murphy - Former U.S. ambassador
John Wisniewski - Assemblyman
Paul Binetti - Businessman
Mark Zinna - Councilman in Tenafly, New Jersey
Republican
Jack Ciattarelli - Assemblyman
Kim Guadagno - Lieutenant governor
Steve Rogers - Township Commissioner of Nutley
Joseph Rudy Rullo - Businessman
Green
Seth Kaper-Dale - Pastor at the Reformed Church of Highland Park
Primary Information
A primary election is when voters of a political party select the candidate they believe should represent a political party in the General Election. Primaries take place months in advance of General elections.
Primary Date: June 6, 2017
New Jersey runs a Closed primary, meaning you must be a registered member of the political party you are voting for.
New Jersey residents must register to vote at at least 21 days prior to an election. Unaffiliated voters can declare a political party affiliation at the polls in order to take part in a party's primary. Voters who wish to change their political party affiliation must do so at least 55 days prior to the primary election.
Virginia
Position: Governor
Virginia does not do a joint ticket, and elects a Governor and Lt. Governor separately
Election Date: November 7, 2017
Who Can Vote? Residents of Virginia
Who's the Prior Incumbent? Terry McAuliffe (D)
What Should I Know About This?
McAuliffe can no longer seek re-election as he has hit the term limit maximum.
Virginia Governorship has frequently swapped parties over the past decade
The Virginia Government is Divided, meaning the Executive Branch is led by Democrats, but the Legislative Branch has a Republican majority
Virginia is currently facing court charges that the state is unfairly gerrymandered.
Gerrymandering does not affect Governor elections, but it is important to note about Virginia politics
New Jersey's governorship has been determined to be a vulnerable position for the Democratic Party.
Vulnerable means the sitting party has a strong chance to lose to an opposition party
In the 2016 Presidential Election, Virginia went to Hillary Clinton (D) with 49.75% of the vote
Who's Running?
We don't know the final candidates yet, but many people have declared their running as of this posting
Democrat
Ralph Northam - Current Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
Tom Perriello - Former U.S. Representative
Republican
Ed Gillespie - Political consultant, advocate
Denver Riggleman - Businessman
Corey Stewart - Chairman, Prince William Board of County Supervisors; chairman, Trump for President
Frank Wagner - State senator
Emmanuel Peter - Teacher and minister
Primary Information
A primary election is when voters of a political party select the candidate they believe should represent a political party in the General Election. Primaries take place months in advance of General elections.
Primary Date: June 13, 2017
Virginia uses a Hybrid process for Primaries, meaning you do NOT have to be a registered party member to vote in a primary
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Position: Lt. Governor
Virginia does not do a joint ticket, and elects a Governor and Lt. Governor separately
Election Date: November 7, 2017
Who Can Vote? Residents of Virginia
Who's the Prior Incumbent? Ralph Northam (D)
What Should I Know About This?
Northam is running for Governor, meaning the seat for Lt Governor is open
Unlike the office of the Governor, the Lt. Governor has primarily been held by Democrats since 1850
The Virginia Government is Divided, meaning the Executive Branch is led by Democrats, but the Legislative Branch has a Republican majority
Virginia is currently facing court charges that the state is unfairly gerrymandered.
Gerrymandering does not affect Lt. Governor elections, but it is important to note about Virginia politics
In the 2016 Presidential Election, Virginia went to Hillary Clinton (D) with 49.75% of the vote
Who's Running?
We don't know the final candidates yet, but many people have declared their running as of this posting
Democrat
Justin Fairfax - Former federal prosecutor
Gene Rossi - Assistant U.S. Attorney
Susan Platt - Political consultant
Republican
Glenn Davis - State representative
Jill Holtzman Vogel - State senator
Bryce Reeves - State senator
Primary Information
A primary election is when voters of a political party select the candidate they believe should represent a political party in the General Election. Primaries take place months in advance of General elections.
Primary Date: June 13, 2017
Virginia uses a Hybrid process for Primaries, meaning you do NOT have to be a registered party member to vote in a primary
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Position: Attorney General
Virginia elects an Attorney General, rather than allows for appointment by the Governor
Election Date: November 7, 2017
Who Can Vote? Residents of Virginia
Who's the Prior Incumbent? Mark Herring (D)
What Should I Know About This?
Herring is seeking re-election
The Virginia Government is Divided, meaning the Executive Branch is led by Democrats, but the Legislative Branch has a Republican majority
Virginia is currently facing court charges that the state is unfairly gerrymandered.
Gerrymandering does not affect Lt. Governor elections, but it is important to note about Virginia politics
In the 2016 Presidential Election, Virginia went to Hillary Clinton (D) with 49.75% of the vote
Who's Running?
We don't know the final candidates yet, but many people have declared their running as of this posting
Democrat
Mark Herring - Incumbent
Republican
John Adams - Former federal prosecutor
Rob Bell - State representative
Chuck Smith - Attorney
Primary Information
A primary election is when voters of a political party select the candidate they believe should represent a political party in the General Election. Primaries take place months in advance of General elections.
Primary Date: June 13, 2017
Virginia uses a Hybrid process for Primaries, meaning you do NOT have to be a registered party member to vote in a primary
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