ASU

Representative Yassamin Ansari Discusses Her Districts Funding and Housing Affordability Proposals

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In two social media video posts, Arizona Congressional District Three Representative Yassamin Ansari discussed vital infrastructure, sustainability, public safety, and housing affordability measures that are making their way through the appropriations and legislative process. In the first video, Representative Ansari discussed the prospects of securing over $16 million in 14 funding priorities through the appropriations … Read more

Trump’s Racist Anti Immigrant Poison Spreads to ASU

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Former Republican and Bulwark founder Sarah Longwell was concise and to the point with this social media post: “In two weeks Trump has: -Released the J6 prisoners who violently assaulted cops to overturn an election.-Started a trade war with allies, but gave China a light touch.-Turned over the entire government to the unelected billionaire who … Read more

Gallego and Ansari, along with Community Partners, Expand the Green Economy with the Grand Opening of a Circular Plastics Micro Factory

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In another move designed to promote a green economy, add green collar jobs to Arizona’s workforce, and further the Phoenix Climate Action Plan Goal of reaching zero waste by 2050, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, District Seven Councilwoman (and Congressional Candidate) Yassamin Ansari, along with representatives from ASU, Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona, and Hustle … Read more

ASU’s Morrison Institute pushes Top Two Primary with study on “independent” voters

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Crossposted from DemocraticDiva.com

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtlHcl8WjCA?feature=player_embedded&w=640&h=360]
The inimitable Jay Smooth explains, via rapper T-Pain and Sean Hannity, why you can’t possibly know more about politics than people who pay attention if you don’t pay attention.

In case the embedded video doesn’t play.

ASU’s Morrison Institute issued a study of the elusive “independent voters” in Arizona. It was commissioned by the Clean Elections Commission and was pretty comprehensive (albeit with what I consider to be some gaps that I’ll get to in a bit) in that it included several focus groups and surveys and it asked what I believe is the pertinent question about this group of voters:

Are independent voters truly an untapped resource that could determine elections, aiding in the transformation of Arizona from a conservative “red state” into a “purple” moderate state or even more progressive “blue state?” Or, with no organization and a track record of poor turnout in both primary and general elections, are independents a much-ado-about-nothing “party” of non-participants?

I’m going with the latter, and not just based on my own frustrating personal experience with these voters. Oh no, thanks to this study we now have empirical evidence to go on. They not only don’t vote:

We know actual voter turnout is significantly lower than survey respondents indicate because voters tend to overstate their voting behavior – primarily because it is socially unacceptable to admit to not voting.

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