Bill would set up run-off elections after inconclusive party primary result

Radio Iowa ^ | O. Kay Henderson

[ObamahatesPACoal]

A bill that would set up run-off elections in Iowa when none of the candidates in a party’s primary election get 35 percent of the vote has cleared its first hurdle at the statehouse.

Under current Iowa law, a political party holds a special nominating convention if none of its candidates reaches that 35 percent threashold in a primary election. Senator Jeff Danielson, a Democrat from Cedar Falls, says letting “party insiders” make the pick leads to questions about the “legitimacy” of the chosen candidate.

“I believe this bill is necessary because I would like Iowa’s election processes from beginning to end to have the greatest participation of the people,” Danielson says.

(SNIP)

Danielson notes two of Iowa’s four congressmen were the products of special nominating conventions, as both Congressman David Young and Congressman Steve King became their party’s pick for the job after inconclusive primary election results.

[ObamahatesPACoal]

Steve King got the most votes at 31% in 2002. But David Young was fifth and then once nominated revealed he supports amnesty and obamacare.

[Paleo Conservative]

Why 35%? Shouldn’t it be 50%?

[Iowa Granny]

Iowa law says you must get 35% of the vote in order to advance in the Primary. The 35% number is because there is no limit to the number of people who can have their name on the ballot.

[Repeal The 17th]

RE: 35%
I don’t understand how the proposed language solves the problem.

If 3 people run in the primary and each gets 33% of the vote...now, what?
If 4 people run in the primary and each gets 25% of the vote...now, what?
etc.
Why don’t they just say that the top 2 vote-getters proceed to a run-off?

[iowamark]

If this bill as currently written becomes law, however, the top two finishers in a primary would face one another in a run-off election held four weeks after the primary. This would apply to primaries for statewide and federal office in Iowa as well as county elections.

Under current Iowa law, if nobody gets 35% in the primary, a nominating convention picks the candidate. Rep. David Young, Iowa CD-3, finished fifth in the June 2014 primary but was nominated at the convention.

[Paleo Conservative]

There’s no limit to the number of candidates who can be on the ballot in Texas too, but if no candidate gets at least a majority vote (50% +1), there is automatically a runoff. Under Iowa rules, David Dewhurst would be the junior US Senator from Texas instead of Ted Cruz.