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Shawn Griffiths

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    Leadership

    Can a gay, tough-on-crime prosecutor who supports abortion rights become California's 1st independent AG?

    Shawn Griffiths
    June 03, 2022
    Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert

    Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert

    commons.wikimedia.org

    Griffiths is the national editor of Independent Voter News, where a version of this story first appeared.

    California voters have a chance to make history this year by electing independent leaders to the state’s top executive offices for the first time in modern history. Among these independents is a gay, tough-on-crime, former Republican who supports abortion rights and is running for attorney general.

    And then there's No Party Preference gubernatorial candidate Michael Shellenberger, who has tremendous financial backing and could beat out a weak Republican field with a message that targets Democrats’ handling of homelessness. If he is able to advance to November, the former Democrat could bring in support from across the political spectrum and give the incumbent, Democrat Gavin Newsom, a much more formidable challenge than he faced against his staunchly conservative opponent in the recall.

    But the contest that may present the more probable path to a political upheaval going into the June 7 primary is not for the governor’s seat. It is the race for attorney general.

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    Congress

    What is the Electoral Count Act?

    Shawn Griffiths
    January 14, 2022
    Congress certifies the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6, 2021

    Congress meets to ratify the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6, 2021.

    Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

    Griffiths is the national editor of Independent Voter News, where a version of this story first appeared.

    More than a year after the highly contested 2020 election, the controversy over the integrity of the process and the response to the election results is still on full display in our nation’s capital. A proposed change to a law controlling the Electoral College seeks to ease any concerns over the presidential elections process.

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    electoral count act
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