Cross-filing

Last updated

In American politics, cross-filing (similar to the concept of electoral fusion) occurs when a candidate runs in the primary election of not only their own party, but also that of one or more other parties, [1] generally in the hope of reducing or eliminating their competition at the general election. It was in effect in California from 1913 to 1959, when it was abolished, and has been used in other states, most significantly in New York and New Hampshire, where it is still in effect.

Contents

In New York the main candidates are usually the Democratic and Republican nominees, and the support of various minor parties is demonstrated by winning their nomination as well. For example, Republican nominees often attempt to win the nomination of the Conservative Party of New York as well. One rare exception was in 1944, where New York Congressman Vito Marcantonio was successful in winning both the Republican and Democratic Party primaries, assuring his re-election. [2]

Cross-filing in California elections, 1913-1959

In 1909, California introduced the direct primary election in its elections. The state's requirement that candidates in primary elections certify that they had supported a particular party in the previous general election was struck down by the California Supreme Court in 1909, in a case involving the Socialist Party of America. While the California State Legislature attempted to institute a looser test in 1911, by 1913, there was no longer any restriction on candidates filing in multiple primaries. [1] The cross-filing provision was added to a previously debated primary bill by members of the administration of Governor Hiram Johnson, who had previously run (on separate occasions) as a Republican and with the Progressive Party. [3]

In 1917 and 1919, the legislature barred a candidate who lost his own party's nomination from running as a member of any other party, and allowed the state committee of the affected party to fill any vacancies on their ticket. [1] In combination with statutes that placed the incumbent first on the ballot and designated him by his title, these ballot rules gave a heavy advantage to incumbents. [2]

In 1946, Governor Earl Warren, eight other state officials, twelve of the state's twenty-three U.S. representatives, and approximately three-quarters of incumbent state legislators seeking re-election were elected by winning both major primaries through cross-filing. [1] In 1948, US Representative Richard Nixon, facing no Republican primary opponent, cross-filed and defeated Stephen Zetterberg in the Democratic primary. [2]

In 1952, incumbent Republican US Senator William Knowland won the nomination of both parties. This marked the low point of post-war Democratic political fortunes in California, and brought into sharp focus the results of cross-filing. Though the majority of California voters were registered Democrats, there had only been one Democratic Governor in the 20th century, and Republicans held majorities in both houses of the Legislature and 111 of the 162 elective partisan offices in the state. [4]

That same year, the Democrats, with funding from oil millionaire Edwin Pauley, filed a ballot initiative to abolish cross-filing. In an attempt to defeat this initiative, the Republican-controlled legislature proposed a competing measure, retaining cross-filing, but requiring candidates to list their party affiliation on all ballots. The Democratic initiative was defeated and the Republican measure won. But thereafter, Republicans running in a Democratic primary would be labeled Republican – a great disadvantage in Democratic districts. [5] This marked the beginning of the end of cross-filing.

1952 also saw the national defeat of Democratic presidential nominee Adlai Stevenson II. After the election, Stevenson enthusiasts, most of whom were volunteer activists rather than professional politicians, formed the California Democratic Council (CDC). The CDC was a grassroots organization of Democratic clubs, intended to prevent the Republicans from continuing to exploit cross-filing.

Cross-filing was finally abolished in California in 1959, after the Democrats swept to power in the 1958 election, with Pat Brown becoming the first Democratic Governor since 1942.

Cross-filing in Pennsylvania

Cross-filing is allowed in municipal elections in Pennsylvania, however it is not allowed in national or statewide elections. It is most commonly used in school board elections and for the election of municipal judges. [6]

In 2013, Allentown, the third largest city in the state, had its incumbent Democratic mayor, Ed Pawlowski, cross-file for the mayoral election of that year where he defeated an independent challenger. This was the first and only time that there was a cross-filed candidate in an Allentown mayoral election. [7]

There have been several efforts to eliminate the practice in the state, mostly from Republican politicians. Two attempts were made in 2016 and 2018 by Justin Simmons (R). The first attempt died in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The second passed, however, the Pennsylvania State Senate never voted on the bill and it died when the legislative session expired. [8] [9] In January 2022 Marci Mustello (R) sponsored another bill that would outlaw the practice. [6]

Related Research Articles

Electoral fusion is an arrangement where two or more political parties on a ballot list the same candidate, pooling the votes for that candidate. It is distinct from the process of electoral alliances in that the political parties remain separately listed on the ballot. The practice of electoral fusion in jurisdictions where it exists allows minor parties to influence election results and policy by offering to endorse or nominate a major party's candidate.

A write-in candidate is a candidate whose name does not appear on the ballot but seeks election by asking voters to cast a vote for the candidate by physically writing in the person's name on the ballot. Depending on electoral law it may be possible to win an election by winning a sufficient number of such write-in votes, which count equally as if the person was formally listed on the ballot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russ Diamond</span> American politician

Russell H. Diamond is an American politician and businessman from Pennsylvania. Following a string of unsuccessful runs for various offices, he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 102nd District in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in California</span> Overview of the procedure of elections in the U.S. state of California

Elections in California are held to fill various local, state and federal seats. In California, regular elections are held every even year ; however, some seats have terms of office that are longer than two years, so not every seat is on the ballot in every election. Special elections may be held to fill vacancies at other points in time. Recall elections can also be held. Additionally, statewide initiatives, legislative referrals and referendums may be on the ballot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New York</span>

The 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New York were held on November 4th, 2008, to elect the 29 U.S. representatives from the State of New York, one from each of the state's 29 congressional districts. state of New York in the United States House of Representatives. New York has 29 seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election in which Democrat Barack Obama defeated Republican John McCain by a wide margin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania</span>

The 2008 congressional elections in Pennsylvania was held on November 4, 2008, to determine who will represent the state of Pennsylvania in the United States House of Representatives. Pennsylvania has 19 seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009, until January 3, 2011. The election coincides with the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

Stephen Ingersoll Zetterberg was an American attorney and Democratic activist. Zetterberg was best known for being defeated by Congressman Richard Nixon in the 1948 Democratic primary, as Nixon, having no Republican primary opposition, entered the Democratic primary to ensure he would have no Democratic opponent in the general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States Senate elections</span>

The 2018 United States Senate elections were held on November 6, 2018. Among the 100 seats, the 33 of Class 1 were contested in regular elections while 2 others were contested in special elections due to Senate vacancies in Minnesota and Mississippi. The winners were elected to 6-year terms running from January 3, 2019, to January 3, 2025. Senate Democrats had 26 seats up for election, while Senate Republicans had 9 seats up for election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States elections</span>

The 2016 United States elections were held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. Republican nominee Donald Trump defeated Democratic former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the presidential election, while Republicans retained control of Congress. This marked the first and most recent time Republicans won or held unified control of the presidency and Congress since 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 United States elections</span>

The 2017 United States elections were held, in large part, on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. This off-year election featured gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey, as well as state legislative elections in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature and in the Virginia House of Delegates. Numerous citizen initiatives, mayoral races, and a variety of other local elections also occurred. Special elections were also held for one seat of the U.S. Senate, representing Alabama, and six seats of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Democrats picked up the governorship in New Jersey and the Alabama Senate seat that was up for a special election. The governorship in Virginia and the six House seats that were up for special elections did not change party hands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States gubernatorial elections</span> Election of 39 state governors

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 8, 2022, in 36 states and three territories. As most governors serve four-year terms, the last regular gubernatorial elections for all but two of the seats took place in 2018 U.S. gubernatorial elections. The gubernatorial elections took place concurrently with several other federal, state, and local elections, as part of the 2022 midterm elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 United States elections</span>

The 2021 United States elections were held in large part on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. This off-year election included the regular gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia. In addition, state legislative elections were held for the New Jersey Legislature and Virginia House of Delegates, along with numerous state legislative special elections, citizen initiatives, mayoral races, and a variety of other local elections. Six special elections to the United States House of Representatives also took place on November 2 or earlier as a result of either deaths or vacancies. The first of these was held on March 20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Alaska Senate election</span> 2020 elections in the US state of Alaska

The 2020 Alaska Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 2020 United States elections. Voters in Alaska elected state senators in 11 of the state's 20 senate districts – the usual ten plus one special election. State senators serve four-year terms in the Alaska Senate, with half seats up for election every two years. Primary elections on August 18, 2020, determined which candidates appeared on the general election ballot on November 3, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Tennessee elections</span>

Tennessee state elections in 2020 were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Primary elections for the United States Senate, United States House of Representatives, Tennessee Senate, and Tennessee House of Representatives, as well as various judicial retention elections, were held on August 6, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Vermont Senate election</span> Elections

The 2020 Vermont Senate elections took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Vermont voters elected all 30 state senators from 13 districts, with each district electing between one and six senators. State senators serve two-year terms in the Vermont Senate. A primary election on August 11, 2020, determined which candidates appeared on the November 3 general election ballot. All the members elected will serve in the Vermont General Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1936 Illinois elections</span>

Elections were held in Illinois on Tuesday, November 3, 1936.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Pittsburgh mayoral election</span>

The 2021 Pittsburgh mayoral election took place on November 2, 2021. The primary election was held on May 18, 2021. The Democratic nominee, State Representative Ed Gainey, defeated the Republican nominee, retired police officer Tony Moreno.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1930 Wyoming state elections</span>

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Wyoming on Tuesday, November 4, 1930. All of the state's executive officers—the Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction—were up for election. Republicans narrowly held onto the Governor's office and won every other state office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States treasurer elections</span>

The 2022 United States state treasurer elections were held on November 8, 2022, to elect the state treasurer and equivalents in twenty-seven states, plus a special election in Utah. The previous elections for this group of states took place in 2018. The treasurer of Vermont serves two-year terms and was last elected in 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 McHenry, Dean E. (1946). "Cross-Filing of Political Candidates in California". The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 248 (1): 226–231. doi:10.1177/000271624624800132.
  2. 1 2 3 Woo, Elaine (February 4, 2009). "Stephen L. Zetterberg dies at 92; Democratic attorney's early elective loss helped set Nixon on winning course". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  3. ↑ Findley, James C. (September 1959). "Cross-Filing and the Progressive Movement in California Politics". The Western Political Quarterly. 12 (3): 699–711. doi:10.2307/443867. JSTOR   443867.
  4. ↑ Background introduction to California Democratic Council Records
  5. ↑ Boyarsky, Bill. Big Daddy: Jesse Unruh and the Art of Power Politics (University of California Press, 2008), Pg. 54
  6. 1 2 Scicchitano, Eric. "GOP lawmakers propose ending cross-filing for school board, certain judicial elections". www.cnhinews.com . Retirement Systems of Alabama . Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  7. ↑ "MUNICIPAL ELECTION - NOVEMBER 2013". home.lehighcounty.org. Lehigh County, Pennsylvania . Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  8. ↑ "Simmons' Bill would End Cross-Filing by School Board Candidates". www.pahousegop.com. Pennsylvania House of Representatives . Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  9. ↑ "House Bill 638; Regular Session 2017-2018". www.legis.state.pa.us. Pennsylvania General Assembly . Retrieved 27 January 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.