Subject: GPCA Experience with Election Rules 1992-1995, including NOTA election of 1994
By Mike Feinstein, Santa Monica
November, 1992 - At the GPCA state meeting in Monterrey, the Open/Closed Primary rule was allowed to sunset.
January, 1994 - At the GPCA General Assembly in San Francisco, the open/closed primary rule is reinstated for statewide races with a 80.5% vote. Delegates then voted 65% to 35% to close the Governor’s race. This vote fell short of the needed 80% and the race was opened as a result.
Two candidates filed for Governor with the intention of running - John Lewallen and James Ogle. A campaign for NOTA was organized in response. An additional candidate - John Selawsky - went on the ballot as well, using his ballot message to say that Greens should not be in the race and that Greens should vote NOTA.
A pro-NOTA letter from elected Green City Councilmembers Donna Spring (Berkeley) and Bruce Mast (Albany) was sent out to likely Green voters across the state.
A second one listing the endorsement for NOTA by the Green Parties of Alemeda, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Sonoma Counties was also sent out.
June 6th, 1994 - In the California primary election, NOTA won a state-wide election for the first time in US history. The result was
January, 19th, 1995 - The California Court of Appeals Third Appellate District stripped the Green Party of NOTA, overturning the 1992 ruling (Green Party of California v. Jones).
February 27th, 1995 -The Green Party petitioned the California Supreme Court to review the Appellate Court decision. The Court did not chose to hear the case.
November, 1992 - At the GPCA state meeting in Monterrey, the Open/Closed Primary rule was allowed to sunset.
January, 1994 - At the GPCA General Assembly in San Francisco, the open/closed primary rule is reinstated for statewide races with a 80.5% vote. Delegates then voted 65% to 35% to close the Governor’s race. This vote fell short of the needed 80% and the race was opened as a result.
Two candidates filed for Governor with the intention of running - John Lewallen and James Ogle. A campaign for NOTA was organized in response. An additional candidate - John Selawsky - went on the ballot as well, using his ballot message to say that Greens should not be in the race and that Greens should vote NOTA.
A pro-NOTA letter from elected Green City Councilmembers Donna Spring (Berkeley) and Bruce Mast (Albany) was sent out to likely Green voters across the state.
A second one listing the endorsement for NOTA by the Green Parties of Alemeda, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Sonoma Counties was also sent out.
June 6th, 1994 - In the California primary election, NOTA won a state-wide election for the first time in US history. The result was
• None of the Above (46.17%)
• James Selawsky - 3,688 votes (20.81%)
• James Ogle - 2,930 votes (16.53%)
• John Lewallen - 2,923 votes (16.49%)
January, 19th, 1995 - The California Court of Appeals Third Appellate District stripped the Green Party of NOTA, overturning the 1992 ruling (Green Party of California v. Jones).
February 27th, 1995 -The Green Party petitioned the California Supreme Court to review the Appellate Court decision. The Court did not chose to hear the case.