The Herald’s article,
Actions by the offices of the attorney general, secretary of state and the local Democratic Party to weaponize politics to financially and politically ruin Independent candidate Paul Jones are emblematic of win-at-all-cost strategies now customary in partisan politics.
Democrats and Republicans cannot win elections without support from Independent voters, but there’s a systematic effort to repress, disadvantage or outright cheat Independent candidates. Election law and policies are written by state legislators and elected officials, all Democrats and Republicans (for now).
The lone exceptions are citizen initiatives approved by voters. For example, Propositions 107 and 108 (2016) rewrote the law so that Independents could vote in primary elections. Likewise, Constitutional Amendments Y and Z (2018) created independent commissions to redraw electoral districts for legislators and members of Congress, a privilege formerly reserved for party insiders.
These initiatives were opposed by legislators and the political parties because of the threat to their monopoly.
Despite the systematic disadvantages and being outspent 2:1, our Independent campaign for my first-time run for office lost the 2020 race for county commissioner by only 0.05% (166 votes of 33,320 cast). Our effort wasn’t a failure, it was a beginning, whether for me or others willing to run without obligation or fealty to a political party.
A proper headline would be, “Independents have not won ... yet!” There is a place for candidates without support, obligation, or fealty to a political party or special interests.
Jack TurnerDurango
