It’s bad enough candidates for President feel the need to declare their bids two years before the election. Now we’re having a rash (pause and enjoy the aptness of the metaphor) of candidates declaring a year before their local and Legislative 2020 elections:
- Michael Clark is campaigning already for District 9 House.
- Joshua Sopko is campaigning already for District 6 House.
- Alex Jensen has been running since May for Sioux Falls City Council, which election isn’t until next April.
I even had a friend ask, in all seriousness, if it was too late for Democrats to field a U.S. Senate candidate.
Seriously, people? Take a chill pill.
John Thune declared his bid against the most powerful Democrat in the United States, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, in January 2004. Kristi Noem declared her primary candidacy against longer-running Republicans Chris Nelson and Blake Curd in mid-February 2010. If Thune and Noem could wait until the election year to launch successful statewide campaigns, so can all of the early-announcers listed above.
Nobody becomes a candidate for real until January 1, when candidates can take out petitions and start asking for signatures. Partisan candidates for Legislature have until March 31 to submit their measly few dozen signatures; independents have until April 28; real rebels (and maybe Democrats who declare bankruptcy and form a new Labour party) can work until July 1 to form an alternative party and then nominate candidates for everything above county level until August 11.
The current Legislature still has a whole ‘nother Session to slog through candidate petitions are due. Most candidates and most of their voters may fairly say that they can’t decide if they want to hire back the same slate before those legislators have finished the whole second half of their two-year assignment.
Longer campaigns mean more expensive campaigns. Even if most people aren’t paying attention until a month or two before the vote, candidates will inevitably feel pressure to counter early entrants with fundraising and social media presence. If we move the norm for entering a Legislative race more than a year back from the Election, we will discourage more working folks from a pursuit that already puts enormous demands on normal family life. Candidates should do themselves and all willing civic participants a favor by not publicly declaring or fundraising until the calendar election year begins at the earliest.
Canadian Parliamentary campaigns are limited to 50 days. We would do well to follow that model, or at least move toward it. Make petitions available July 1, so candidates can go out and collect signatures on July 4 and then campaign at the fairs. Hold the primary the day after Labor Day, then run the normal general election in November.
I’m grateful we have people willing to throw their hat into the ring. What do we have to lose?. See if we can change things up.
I’d love to see shorter campaigns too. Time limits and public funding would be a good start on reforming elections.
GOP is canceling primaries because they’re afraid real GOPers will vote for the challengers and the leadership wants to maintain their grafty train.
In addition, they’re worried that a real GOPer with actual principles and patriotism will support investigations that land many of them, including the trump Crime Family Syndicate, Moscow Mitch/Massacre Mitch, and so many others, in prison for the rest of their already unnatural lives.
In addition, per New York law, any primary candidate must submit tax returns to be eligible. Bwahahahahaha!!
So no primaries!
People who announce this early are too much the eager beavers chasing after power, rather than a principled candidate. That’s my first criticism.
But, let’s play the game. What does putting words like “freedom” and “liberty” in an ad for state legislature really signify? Nothing. Remember, those words were used by slave owners.
Sure, legislators have proven over decades to rarely have the interests of state citizens foremost in their minds. That’s not a particularly original thought.
What does “real representation” mean, and how is that going to happen? And don’t say, “by electing me you will get real representation.”
This guy is not giving me a thing to define himself, other than that he is unoriginal and vague, and thinks I’m buying it.
Why does any candidate want challengers? Scaring off gutless competition is a good plan.
It’s kind of a dirty game.
See, Mr. Barth, I look at Mr. Sopko’s graphic and think the guy is an empty, well, sweater, since he’s not wearing a suit. Just looking at the War College site, it appears Sopko is best known for being for hemp/medical pot. Yeah, fine. I have no problem with that. It’s a huge mistake Noem is making, and having a Republican make that argument is great. But the least he could do is make the argument, not pussyfoot around with words like “freedom” and “liberty.” I’m sure he’s for other things, too, but he’d be better off educating himself about the major issues, developing a set of priorities, etc., and announcing when he’s got those fleshed out. His early announcement indicates he’s not ready for prime time, and is an invitation for someone with substance to get in the race. There are way too many of these ciphers and one issue cretins in Pierre already.
I share MJK’s gratitude for people who are willing to participate; I just wish they could wait to participate until everyone is paying attention and not contribute to the creeping length of the forever-election cycle. People who want to participate in civic affairs could spend the off-year circulating ballot question petitions! :-D
Sopko supports hemp and pot? Well, expect the Noem establishment to pour money into his primary challengers’ pot.
By the way, Sopko is running in District 6, where all three Republicans—Isaac Latterell, Herman Otten, and Ernie Otten—are term-limited. So District 6 is a good place for a newcomer to take a shot, since at least one House seat will have to go to a newcomer. If both Ottens will do us a favor a sit down, 6 could get really interesting.