WA State Primaries

[Deleted]

Ugh! Happy my county went Clinton. Mortified that my county went Trump by +65%!

[Nonny]

I know this primary is meaningless for the dems, but I'm glad the super delegates will be able to point to it and tell the Berners to fuck off.

[WOT?*]

May 24, 2016 23:12:40 GMT -5 Nonny said:

I know this primary is meaningless for the dems, but I'm glad the super delegates will be able to point to it and tell the Berners to fuck off.

Which makes it absolutely NOT meaningless, at least not in my opinion.

I went on every Hillary page I could comment on that I'm a member of to tell people to turn their ballots in, even if the primary "didn't count" because it would show the Sanders people that he wasn't as favored as they believe, and that caucuses are inherently imbalanced. And in doing so, I saw that I wasn't the only one.

And I think that Sanders latest antics, with trying to convert the superdelegates, calling and threatening them, harassing Clinton supporters, his more recent bluster and bombasticness, the call for a debate and everything else he has done has motivated Clinton's base even more than we'd hoped. Thanks Bernie.

[WOT?*]

Clinton was the declared winner.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump each won primaries in Washington state Tuesday.

Trump's win helps him inch closer to clinching the GOP nomination for president. He is within 41 delegates of the number needed to become the Republican nominee.

Clinton's win might give her some momentum, but it won't get her any delegates. There were no delegates at stake in the Democratic primary. Washington Democrats already awarded their delegates based on party caucuses.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders won Washington's caucuses in March, getting 74 delegates. Clinton got 27.

Republicans in Washington will allocate all 44 delegates to their national convention based on the primary results.

Sanders trails Hillary Clinton in the delegate count and he is running out of contests in his longshot bid to catch up.

Clinton is just 78 delegates short of clinching the Democratic nomination for president. She is on track to do so in early June, even if she loses all the remaining contests.

Clinton has 1,768 pledged delegates won in primaries and caucuses. Sanders has 1,497.

Clinton's lead is even bigger when superdelegate endorsements are included. These are the party leaders and elected officials who can support the candidate of their choice.

Overall, Clinton has 2,305 delegates and Sanders has 1,539. It takes 2,383 delegates to win the Democratic nomination.

[jojoandleo]

I hope these primary votes in caucus states will help us get rid of the GODDAM CAUCUS. They obviously DO NOT represent the will of the people.

[froggy76]

Was there anything else on the ballot? Or was it just a presidential primary? I would love to hear that Bernie supporters couldn't be bothered to vote in down-ballot races.

[ESF]

I don't understand. Why do states have both primaries and caucuses?

[laurenpetro]

May 25, 2016 9:44:22 GMT -5 ESF said:

I don't understand. Why do states have both primaries and caucuses?

shit. I was hoping you'd know.

[jojoandleo]

May 25, 2016 9:44:22 GMT -5 ESF said:

I don't understand. Why do states have both primaries and caucuses?

To prove to Bernie Bros that this shit is NOT FUCKING RIGGED, except possibly rigged to actually give Sanders MORE delegates than he deserves. 

Actually, I think the Primary vote has things on it other than president, and president is included for recording purposes, or something?  Really, the Caucus is what is superfluous.  Or I am pulling this all out of my ass.

I DO agree with the psychos Bernie Bros that the Primary system needs to be fixed.  I just disagree that Hillary is STEALING THE ELECTION.  This shit needs to be streamlined so I can quit hearing children whine about how it's not fair they don't get more ice cream, even though they were told from the beginning they wouldn't get any more if they didn't eat their veggies.

[Deleted]

My primary ballot only had the presidential race on it. I think it was possible for some precincts/ counties to have down ballot races in them, but mine was presidential only.

[Deleted]

I need to ha e a serious discussion about what we need to do to make sure Senator Patty Murray is reelected.

[Deleted]

May 25, 2016 10:05:37 GMT -5 jojoandleo said:

May 25, 2016 9:44:22 GMT -5 ESF said:

I don't understand. Why do states have both primaries and caucuses?

To prove to Bernie Bros that this shit is NOT FUCKING RIGGED, except possibly rigged to actually give Sanders MORE delegates than he deserves. 

Actually, I think the Primary vote has things on it other than president, and president is included for recording purposes, or something?  Really, the Caucus is what is superfluous.  Or I am pulling this all out of my ass.

I DO agree with the psychos Bernie Bros that the Primary system needs to be fixed.  I just disagree that Hillary is STEALING THE ELECTION.  This shit needs to be streamlined so I can quit hearing children whine about how it's not fair they don't get more ice cream, even though they were told from the beginning they wouldn't get any more if they didn't eat their veggies.

Except that in WA, the Democrats use the caucus to allocate their delegates. It's the primary that means nothing.

According to the Washington Secretary of State: One of the main differences between a primary election and a caucus is who is running the show. State governments conduct primaries, while state parties are behind caucuses. In both processes, voters are selecting candidates who will move on to the presidential election in November.

So as I understand it, the state runs the primary, but the Democratic Party has decided to use its own party-run caucus to allocate delegates. It COULD cancel the caucus and just use the state-run primary to allocate its delegates. As I understand it, that's what the GOP does in WA. The GOP previously held a WA caucus, so I'm a little confused as to what purpose that serves.

Really, this strikes at the heart of Bernie's argument that the Democratic establishment has rigged the system to be against him. The establishment has chosen to use the caucus to allocate its delegates, and he has done much better in caucuses. If the establishment was so out to get him, the party should have canceled the caucus. But of course, nobody can complain about caucuses because they are so awesome!

[WOT?*]

May 25, 2016 9:35:25 GMT -5 froggy76 said:

Was there anything else on the ballot? Or was it just a presidential primary? I would love to hear that Bernie supporters couldn't be bothered to vote in down-ballot races.

Nothing else on the ballot in my county (Snohomish). Just the primaries.

Clinton v. Sanders and Trump v. Cruz v. Kasich v. Rubio (yep, all four were still on the ballot.)

At least in WA, we have a caucus because that's how the Democrats decided to pick their delegates. The Republicans use the primary system. But the law states that BOTH parties have to be represented on the ballot, so they can't do a R only ballot. There are (or were) plenty of people who thought the primary counted towards selecting delegate numbers for the Democrats and didn't show up for caucuses, or they couldn't for any number of reasons. I know there were a number of people that were called who said "I'll be sure to vote for her in the primary" not knowing the importance of the caucus here. The results, as in Nebraska, don't count for anything other than proof that Hillary has a lot more support (here and in Nebraska) than Bernie supporters gave her credit for.

ETA: I'll just go with Jojo and Harpy. And damn straight we need to keep Patty. If the Bernie supporters end up Foleying her I will be pissed

[jojoandleo]

May 25, 2016 10:37:12 GMT -5 @angryharpy said:

May 25, 2016 10:05:37 GMT -5 jojoandleo said:

To prove to Bernie Bros that this shit is NOT FUCKING RIGGED, except possibly rigged to actually give Sanders MORE delegates than he deserves. 

Actually, I think the Primary vote has things on it other than president, and president is included for recording purposes, or something?  Really, the Caucus is what is superfluous.  Or I am pulling this all out of my ass.

I DO agree with the psychos Bernie Bros that the Primary system needs to be fixed.  I just disagree that Hillary is STEALING THE ELECTION.  This shit needs to be streamlined so I can quit hearing children whine about how it's not fair they don't get more ice cream, even though they were told from the beginning they wouldn't get any more if they didn't eat their veggies.

Except that in WA, the Democrats use the caucus to allocate their delegates. It's the primary that means nothing.

According to the Washington Secretary of State: One of the main differences between a primary election and a caucus is who is running the show. State governments conduct primaries, while state parties are behind caucuses. In both processes, voters are selecting candidates who will move on to the presidential election in November.

So as I understand it, the state runs the primary, but the Democratic Party has decided to use its own party-run caucus to allocate delegates. It COULD cancel the caucus and just use the state-run primary to allocate its delegates. As I understand it, that's what the GOP does in WA. The GOP previously held a WA caucus, so I'm a little confused as to what purpose that serves.

Really, this strikes at the heart of Bernie's argument that the Democratic establishment has rigged the system to be against him. The establishment has chosen to use the caucus to allocate its delegates, and he has done much better in caucuses. If the establishment was so out to get him, the party should have canceled the caucus. But of course, nobody can complain about caucuses because they are so awesome!

I meant the bolded.  Like, in a world that makes sense.  LOL.  They are going to have primaries ANYWAY so there is really no NEED for a caucus.  It is just an extra, confusing step.

[mominatrix]

King County only had presidential primaries.


It kills me, because this system costs (and wastes) so much money... While the state legislature blows off an order from the state's highest court that the educational system is so underfunded it's unconstitutional.

The system is fucked.

[WOT?*]

But it allows us to talk to our neighbors, get to know each other, discuss our politics openly, "learn about the candidates" (and who hates ours, and us by association.) You know, the good old American way.

There's a reason one doesn't talk politics or religion at dinner parties, people!

[WOT?*]

May 25, 2016 11:01:21 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

I live in WA and have no idea how the whole thing even works. I submitted my ballot for Hillary but I guess it means nothing? Ergh.

In this case, it means the Bernie Bros can STFU about the superdelegates. 3:)

I know at least one person in my legislative district who wants to be in on the Rules Committee for the next primaries, so as to eliminate the caucuses. "If Minnesota can do it..." Good grief I hope so. I can't stand another Berner election season.

[schrodinger]

I have never lived in a caucus state until I moved to WA. The whole process is so confusing. The caucus was at 10am, we got there a little late, then had to drive around forever to find parking. Ended up walking in around 10:30 or so. The first set of volunteers turned us away and we had to beg our way into getting a ballot. Then, they made us stick around and listen to all the arguments before they would accept our ballots. It was so ridiculous, a bunch of people who were very uneducated about the topic ranting on soapboxes. I can totally understand why turnout is low, the process sucks when compared to checking a box, slapping a stamp on it and being done.

[Deleted]

The Berners on FB are saying they didn't bother to vote in WA because they knew it didn't count but if it did then he definitely would have won.

This is probably just another example of how young people only vote when they want something specific but older generations do it regardless. I'm not sure that will hurt Hillary as I don't see tons of young people driven to the polls by Trump, either, but that attitude could hurt the down ballots (which, if they go blue, would help BERNIE in the Senate, but I doubt many will consider that).

[smock]

May 25, 2016 11:51:29 GMT -5 @bugginnine said:

The Berners on FB are saying they didn't bother to vote in WA because they knew it didn't count but if it did then he definitely would have won.

That is hilarious. Just over 26,000 people voted in Washington's caucuses. Over 660,000 voted in the primary. Bernie won the caucus by 12,000 votes, and HRC won the primary by about 50,000 votes--i.e. nearly DOUBLE the entire number of people who participated in March's caucus.

So tell me again how caucuses are more democratic, Bernie?