ST. LOUIS -- During historically divisive times, one Missouri city could be moving toward a nonpartisan way of electing its leaders.

St. Louis voters will decide on Proposition D on the Nov. 3 ballot. It would create a nonpartisan primary system, and implement what's known as "approval voting" in municipal elections.

Mallory Rusch, campaign manager for STL Approves, the group backing the measure, said approval voting allows voters to choose all the candidates they like, instead of just one -- and the top two candidates advance.

"Our current system really cuts voters off at the knees," she said. "You get to vote one time in a crowded Democratic primary race, and whoever wins that race, even if it's only with 25% of the vote, that person is going to represent you."

The African-American Aldermanic Caucus opposes the measure, predicting in a statement that Prop D would be the end of the Democratic Party in St. Louis, and would "obscure true debates and issue-driven dialogue among candidates." Rusch countered that Prop D is seeing strong support. It's been endorsed by the St. Louis American, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Democratic congressional candidate Cori Bush.

Chris Raleigh, director of campaigns and advocacy for the Center for Election Science, which helped Fargo, N.D., become the first city in the United States to enact approval voting this year. He said some St. Louis residents don't vote in city elections because they fear their vote will be split or spoiled.

"People have angst about city government. We also see it all over the country," he said. "We looked at the top 100 cities and 60% of people voted against the top vote-getter -- oftentimes the person who becomes the mayor -- in these primaries. So, this is a bit of an epidemic."

Raleigh said polling shows the approval-voting process improves voter turnout and engagement. If passed, the measure would be in effect for the Spring 2021 municipal elections.

Information about Prop D is online at ballotpedia.org.

Virginia lawmakers begin their legislative session today but with elections ahead in November, passing bills may be more difficult this year.

Democrats are interested in beginning the process of passing constitutional amendments on voting rights, marriage equality and reproductive rights this year. The Virginia General Assembly must pass a constitutional amendment twice, in two different legislative sessions, then the amendment would go to voters for approval.

Kate Seltzer, state politics reporter for the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, said a major priority for state Republicans will be tax relief, particularly relief from the annual Vehicle Personal Property Tax, known as the "car tax."

"State Republicans are endorsing an end to the car tax, or taking some incremental steps to end the car tax, which they described as the 'most hated tax since the Boston tea tax.' It is an unpopular tax," Seltzer explained.

It is unpopular because it costs people who own or lease a vehicle just over $4 for each $100 of their car's value as of Jan. 1 each year. Democrats, however, are concerned about school and local government funding if the car tax is repealed. One poll last year found more than 60% of Virginians wanted to see it repealed.

Other Republican priorities include raising criminal penalties for breaking laws involving firearms and drugs.

Seltzer noted the elections coming up later this year may lead to both sides digging in and wanting to deliver key parts of their agendas to their bases.

"The sort of cynical school of thought is that everybody will promote their own legislative priorities," Seltzer observed. "What they will then do is go back to their constituents and explain, 'Well, this is what we tried to do. This is what the other party did to prevent you from having this.' And then, they'll use that in the gubernatorial election."

Elections for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and the entire state House of Delegates will be held this November.


get more stories like this via email

Virginia will hold three special elections across the state today, the first elections since President-elect Donald Trump's victory in November.

The races may hold key signs for state elections later in November. A state senate and house seat are up for grabs in Loudoun County, where Vice President Kamala Harris trounced Trump by more than 20 points. Another senate district in deeply Republican rural areas outside of Richmond is up for grabs.

Karen Hult, professor of political science at Virginia Tech, said she will be looking to see if Republicans build on their slim wins for president and Congress, and how Democrats have responded following their tough losses and closer-than-expected victories in November.

"That will give us a sense of whether the Democrats have regathered and regrouped, and decided we're going to keep moving forward in the statewide elections this calendar year," Hult explained.

Hult added she does not expect major upsets but special elections traditionally have low turnout, leaving room for a possible surprise or narrower margins. The special elections will likely not affect the power balances in the state legislature.

Virginia made a solid swing toward Republicans this year. Harris only won the state by six points, compared to President Joe Biden's 10-point victory in 2020. Much of it can be attributed to Trump increasing his margins in the Washington, D.C., suburbs like Loudoun County. Hult expects voters will focus on issues such as the federal workforce, spending on public education, and reproductive rights.

She noted Virginia is one of only a few states to hold off-year elections, a barometer of sorts following a presidential election.

"This is seen as an early diagnostic on how a newly elected president is doing. I think Virginia does get -- and probably should get -- a great deal of attention just for getting a sense of what people on the ground are thinking about things going forward."

In November, Virginians will elect a governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and the entire House of Delegates.


get more stories like this via email

Progressive advocates are expressing concerns over President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Amy Adams, partnership director for the advocacy group Progress Iowa, has been on the ground in small, rural towns, hearing concerns from residents about Kennedy's controversial stance on vaccines and his alleged promotion of baseless health claims.

"They didn't want to see vaccines discontinued," Adams reported. "These are individuals who have seen polio in their lifetimes and the impacts of this. And just the concerns with Kennedy specifically and his ties to misinformation and vaccine conspiracy theories."

Those concerns aside, some progressive Democrats are considering supporting Kennedy for his stance on reducing the heavy corporate influence over the U.S. food supply and his goal of getting more chemicals out of what people consume.

Based on the input Progress Iowa has received from people around the state, Adams argued the clear choice for Iowa's senators is to reject Kennedy's nomination.

"We're hearing stories over and over again about people who are cancer survivors, who benefited from research and development, and people who need those around them to be vaccinated so they can be safe and healthy because they are immunocompromised," Adams explained.

Adams added Iowans also had the opportunity to share their views directly with Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, one of Iowa's two senators who will vote on Kennedy's confirmation.