DID DFL GOVERNORS RUIN CHRISTMAS?
Click on the pictures to view the dates of every special election since 1971
By now, most of you should have read about the DFL and Senator Johnson's complaints about the timing of when Governor Palwenty has ordered special elections.
Please read these quotes from Senator Johnson's press release last week.
"It's clear from the governor's actions that his highest priority when considering special elections is low voter turnout. It is difficult to understand someone who claims they believe in democracy and then makes decisions that ensure the fewest number of people participate in the process."
"Gov. Pawlenty has minimized the Christmas holiday and shown a blatant disregard to our families, all in the name of partisan gamesmanship. His decision is disrespectful to the voters, university students, and the local taxpayers who must pay the election bill."
Minimized the Christmas holiday? His decision is disrespectful to the voters?
Senator Johnson and the DFL don't want you to know that DFL governors have also ordered special elections to be held near Christmas.
Governor Wendy Anderson ordered a special election two days before Christmas in 1974. Anderson had previously ordered a special election to occur just nine days earlier.
Governor Rudy Perpich ordered a special election six days before Christmas in 1978.
Governor Rudy Perpich ordered a special election three days before Christmas in 1986.
Governor Rudy Perpich ordered a special election five days before Christmas in 1988.
Senator Johnson and the DFL really don't care about the timing of special elections, but they do care about lowering the expectations that DFLers can win these seats.
3 Comments:
Yes, and every single one of those elections elected an Independent-Republican. You would have a better case to make if DFL governors held them close to Christmas or Thanksgiving to help their own party. Christmas elections are also in the minority (6 out of 72 special elections, per your highlighting) and should be avoided at any cost. In this case, TimPa could hold the election in January or February if he wanted, but chose not to because it wouldn't help his party as much (a Christmas election has elected Republicans 100 percent of the time, according to your own evidence).
MDE -
Actually posted something on this on my new blog. Came to the conclusion that this is a non-partisan problem as both sides do it. I think everyone’s energy is best placed looking for a common solution to de-politicize the election process and return it to its original neutral state
The issue isn't who won the election, the issue is when the elections were held.
The DFL is acting as if there has never been a special election near Christmas.
There is clearly precident.
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