CALIFORNIA– Proclaiming that California voters now have the tools to take on a government broken by partisanship, IndependentVoice.Org, a statewide association of independent voters, today announced its “Post Partisan” Candidate Endorsement Slate.
The group endorsed candidates Bill Bloomfield (No Party Preference, 33rd Congressional District), Marc Levine (Democrat, 10th Assembly District), Chad Walsh (No Party Preference 28th Assembly District), and Abel Maldonado (Republican, 24th Congressional District). The candidates were selected based on their demonstrated support for political reforms that empower independent voters – referred to as “No Party Preference” in California – like the “top-two” open primary and redistricting reform.
“For the first time in over a decade, independent voters will have a real voice in state and congressional races,” said Jason Olson, the Director of IndependentVoice.Org. “Whatever our ideological differences, independent voters believe that government mostly does what’s best for the political parties, and not the people. We’re proud to stand with candidates who want to work with independents to lead us beyond destructive partisanship and move the country forward.”
The 2012 election marks the debut of the open “top two” primary system and new districts drawn by a citizens commission instead of the State Legislature. Rather than running in party primaries, all candidates ran in a non-partisan voter primary in June. All voters were able to participate and vote for any candidate regardless of party, with the top two candidates moving on to a “run-off style” November election. IndependentVoice.Org was a key proponent of the successful redistricting reform and “top two” open primary measures passed by California voters.
IndependentVoice.Org is part of the national independent movement pushing for similar reforms around the country, including in Arizona where this fall voters will have the opportunity to pass a “top two” open primary system.
Independent voters have been the fastest growing segment of the electorate in California over the past several decades. The most recent report by the Secretary of State puts the total number of “No Party Preference” voters at just over 3.6 million voters, or 21.28% of all registered voters. Bill Bloomfield, an independent (“No Party Preference”), is a longtime political reform advocate and successful businessman running in the 33rd Congressional District that spans the coastal area of Los Angeles. Many political observers feel that he has the best chance of any independent Congressional candidate in the country to win his race.
“I felt compelled to run for Congress because our country won’t be able to recover from a few more years of a hyper-partisan and broken Congress. We must confront the power and influence of the special interests. It’s time to force both major parties to start solving problems and stop playing partisan political games that threaten our nation’s future. That’s why I’m proud to have the endorsement of IndependentVoice.Org and the independent voters they represent.”