The New Mexico Democratic Party has posted their Draft 2012 Delegate Selection Plan for public comment.

• Delegates are pledged to presidential contenders according to the results of the Tuesday 5 June 2012 Primary.
• National Convention District delegates are elected during the Saturday 9 June 2012 District Conventions.
• National Convention Pledged PLEO delegates are elected during the Saturday 9 June 2012 State Central Committee Meeting.
• National Convention At-large delegates are elected during the Saturday 16 June 2012 State Central Committee Meeting.
• The state should receive a 20% pledged delegate bonus for starting in Stage III (May and June).

The Arkansas Democratic Party has posted their Draft 2012 Delegate Selection Plan for public comment.

• Delegates are pledged to presidential contenders according to the results of the Tuesday 22 May 2012 Primary.
• National Convention delegates are elected during the Saturday 16 June 2012 State Convention.
• The state should receive a 20% pledged delegate bonus for starting in Stage III (May and June).

The Maryland Democratic Party has posted their Draft 2012 Delegate Selection Plan for public comment.

• Delegates are pledged to presidential contenders according to the results of the Tuesday 14 February 2012 Primary.
• The 14 February 2012 start date is before the 6 March 2012 window and could expose the state to Rule 20.C.1. Sanctions.
• SB 501 and SB 820, now before the state General Assembly, would move the primary to Tuesday 3 April 2012. If this happens the state should receive a 10% pledged delegate bonus for starting in Stage II (April).
• National Convention delegates are elected during the Monday 14 May 2012 State Democratic Central Committee Meeting. District delegates are slated before the primary.

California: House CD 36 Special primary on 17 May 2011: Daniel H. "Dan" Adler (Democratic) - added; Michael T. Chamness (No Party Preference [Green]) - added; Steve Collett (Libertarian [Republican]) - previously listed as Libertarian; Mark Contreras (Democratic) - apparently not a candidate; Stephen Eisele (Republican) - added; Mervin Evans (Democratic) - apparently not a candidate; Loraine Goodwin (Democratic [No Party Preference]) - previously listed as Democratic; Maria E. Montano (Peace And Freedom [Democratic]) - added; George Newberry (Republican) - added; Matt Petersen (Democratic) - apparently not a candidate; Katherine Pilot (No Party Preference [Republican]) - added; Matthew "Matt" Roozee (No Party Preference [Republican]) - added; Al Salehi (No Party Preference) - added; James L. Thompson (No Party Preference) - added; Marcy Winograd (Democratic [Green]) - previously listed as Democratic.

Montana: Governor: Ronald J. Lassle (Independent) - added.

California: House CD 36 Special: Steve Collett (Libertarian) - added.

Florida: Senate Class 1: Congressman Connie Mack (Republican) - correction - not a candidate.

Kentucky: Treasurer: Ken Moellman (Libertarian) - added.

Massachusetts: Senate Class 1: Marisa Ann DeFranco (Democratic) - added.

Texas: House CD 22: Kelayil P. "KP" George (Democratic) - added.

HB 1843 / SB 1246 was signed by Virginia Governor Robert F. "Bob" McDonnell on 25 March 2011. The Bill moves the presidential primary date from the 2nd Tuesday in February to the 1st Tuesday in March. Virginia Statutory Election Information.

• Changed Virginia Republican Primary: Now-- Tuesday 6 March 2012. Was-- Tuesday 14 February 2012.
• Changed Virginia Democratic Primary: Now--Tuesday 6 March 2012. Was-- Tuesday 14 February 2012.

The Utah Democratic Party has posted their Draft 2012 Delegate Selection Plan for public comment.

• Utah's process begins on Tuesday 13 March 2012 with Precinct Caucuses. National Convention Delegates are pledged to presidential contenders according to the Presidential preferences expressed at the Precinct Caucuses. In addition, the caucuses elect delegates to the County Conventions.
• County Conventions meet from Tuesday 13 March through Thursday 19 April 2012 to elect delegates to the State Convention.
• National Convention Delegates are elected at the Friday 20 April - Saturday 21 April 2012 State Convention according to the preferences expressed at the Tuesday 13 March 2012 Precinct Caucuses.

Our 2012 Presidential Primary and Caucus calendar is here.

Alabama: House CD 1: Congressman Josiah Robins "Jo" Bonner (Republican) - added as candidate.

California: House CD 6: Congressman Lynn C. Woolsey (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 22: Congressman Kevin McCarthy (Republican) - added as candidate.

Florida: Senate Class 1: Congressman Connie Mack (Republican) - added. House CD 14: Congressman Connie Mack (Republican) - Open Seat. Correction- Congressman Mack will not be a candidate for the Senate in 2011. House CD 22: Ryan Anthony Rossi (Democratic) - added. House CD 24: former Winter Park City Commissioner Karen Diebel (Republican) - added.

Illinois: House CD 10: Ilya Sheyman (Democratic) - added.

New Jersey: House CD 8: Congressman William J. "Bill" Pascrell, Jr. (Democratic) - added as candidate.

New York: House CD 22: Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey (Democratic) - added as candidate.

The Colorado Democratic Party has posted their Draft 2012 Delegate Selection Plan for public comment.

• Colorado's process begins on Tuesday 20 March 2012 with Precinct Caucuses. These caucuses choose delegates to the County Conventions by presidential preference.
• Country Conventions meet Friday 30 March - Saturday 28 April 2012 to choose delegates to the Congressional District and State Conventions by presidential preference.
• National Convention District delegates are pledged to presidential contenders based on the results of the voting during the Saturday 19 May - Friday 1 June 2012 Colorado District Conventions.
• National Convention Pledged PLEO and At-Large delegates are pledged to presidential contenders based on the results of voting during the Saturday 2 June 2012 State Convention.
• SB11-189, before the state Legislature, would move the Presidential Precinct caucuses to the 1st Tuesday in March, 6 March 2012.

California: House CD 36 Special: Craig Huey (Republican) - added.

Delaware: House At-Large: Brent Wangen (Libertarian) - added.

Florida: House CD 22: West Palm Beach Mayor Lois J. Frankel (Democratic) - added.

Guam: Delegate to the House of Representatives: Territorial Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo (Democratic) - added as candidate.

New York: Senate Class 1: Scott A. Noren (Democratic) - added. House CD 15: Vincent Scott "Vince" Morgan (Democratic) - added. House CD 26 Special: John R. "Jack" Davis (Independent, Tea [Republican]) - previously listed as Independent [Republican]; Erie County Clerk Kathy Courtney Hochul (Democratic) - added; Ian Murphy (Green [Working Families]) - added.

North Carolina: Senate Class 2: Theodore H. "Ted" "Teddy" Corriher (Republican) - added.

Virginia: Senate Class 1: Julien Modica (Democratic) - added.

Washington: House CD 4: Shane Fast (Republican) - added.

The Hawaii Democratic Party has posted their Draft 2012 Delegate Selection Plan for public comment.

• Delegates are pledged to presidential contenders according to voting at the Saturday 7 April 2012 Precinct Caucuses.
• National Convention delegates are elected at the State Convention-- District delegates on 26 May 2011-- Pledged PLEO and At-Large delegates on 27 May 2011.
• The state should receive a 10% pledged delegate bonus for starting in Stage II (April).

The Massachusetts Democratic Party has posted their Draft 2012 Delegate Selection Plan for public comment.

• Delegates are pledged to presidential contenders per the results of the Tuesday 6 March 2012 Primary.
• National Convention District delegates are elected during the Saturday 7 April 2012 Congressional District Caucuses.
• National Convention Pledged PLEO and At-large National Convention delegates are selected on Monday 7 May 2012 by the State Committee.

The Mississippi Democratic Party has posted their Draft 2012 Delegate Selection Plan for public comment.

• Delegates are pledged to presidential contenders per the results of the Tuesday 13 March 2012 Primary.
• National Convention District delegates are elected during the Saturday 31 March through Saturday 28 April 2012 Congressional District Conventions.
• National Convention Pledged PLEO and At-large National Convention delegates are elected during the Saturday 26 May 2012 State Convention.

The Wyoming Democratic Party has posted their Draft 2012 Delegate Selection Plan for public comment.

• District Delegates are pledged to presidential contenders according to the results of the Saturday 7 April 2012 County Caucuses.
• At-Large and Pledged PLEO Delegates are pledged to presidential contenders according the support each candidate receives at the Saturday 26 May 2012 State Convention.
• All National Convention delegates are elected at the Saturday 26 May 2012 State Convention.
• The state should receive a 10% pledged delegate bonus for starting in Stage II (April).

2012 Presidential Primary and Caucus calendar.

The Indiana Democratic Party has posted their Draft 2012 Delegate Selection Plan for public comment.

• Delegates are pledged to presidential contenders per the results of the Tuesday 8 May 2012 Primary.
• National Convention delegates are elected during the Saturday 16 June 2012 State Convention.
• The state should receive a 20% pledged delegate bonus for starting in Stage III (May and June).

The Nebraska Democratic Party has posted their Draft 2012 Delegate Selection Plan for public comment.

• Nebraska's process begins on Saturday 14 April 2012 with Precinct Caucuses. These caucuses choose delegates to the County Conventions by presidential preference.
• The County Conventions meet from Friday 1 June through Sunday 10 June 2012 and choose delegates to the State Convention by presidential preference.
• National Convention Delegates are pledged to presidential contenders according to the preferences of the delegates at the Saturday 23 June 2012 State Democratic Convention.
• The state should receive a 10% pledged delegate bonus for starting in Stage II (April).

2012 Presidential Primary and Caucus calendar.

The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer Labor Party has posted their Draft 2012 Delegate Selection Plan for public comment.

• Delegates are pledged to presidential contenders according to the results of the Tuesday 7 February 2012 Precinct Caucuses.
• The party states that the Precinct Caucus results will not be be announced until 6 March 2012-- the first date that jurisdictions other than Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina may being their process. Minnesota's first determining step is before the 6 March 2012 Window so it will be interesting to see how the Rules and By-laws Committee responds.
• National Convention District delegates are elected at the 31 March to 18 May 2012 District Conventions.
• National Convention At-Large and Pledged PLEO delegates are elected at the 9 to 20 May 2012 State Convention.

Colorado: House CD 2: Congressman Jared Polis (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Connecticut: House CD 5: Daniel Francis Roberti (Democratic) - added.

Florida: House CD 22: Patrick Murphy (Democratic) - added.

Hawaii: Senate Class 1: state Senator Donna Mercado Kim (Democratic) - added.

Nevada: House CD 2: former state Assemblywoman Sharron E. Angle (Republican) - added.

Pennsylvania: Senate Class 1: Laureen Cummings (Republican) - added. House CD 19: Eric Maloney (Republican) - added.

Rhode Island: Senate Class 1: Benjamin Barrett "Barry" Hinckley, III (Republican) - added.

Texas: House CD 6: Frank Charles Kuchar (Republican) - added. House CD 26: Tracy Raymond Daniels (Independent) - added.

Washington: House CD 9: James Lee Postma (Republican) - added.

New page: Length of Terms of Office of STATE Governors throughout American History

This table includes the date (1776 to current) and the term of office (1-4 years) at the time of each regular Gubernatorial election.

On 14 March 2011, California Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr. (Democratic) called a Special Primary for Tuesday 17 May 2011 and a Special General Election for Tuesday 12 July 2011 to fill the vacancy in Congressional District 36 resulting from the 28 February 2011 resignation of Congressman Jane Harman.

The Special Primary is held on either the 8th or 9th Tuesday before the Special General Election. If the 8th Tuesday is the day of or the day following a holiday, then the primary is held on the 9th Tuesday.

All candidates, both party members and independents, participate in a non-partisan Tuesday 17 May Special Primary. If one candidate receives a majority (50% + 1) of the primary vote, that candidate is elected. Otherwise, the top two vote getters, regardless of party, advance to a Tuesday 12 July Special General Election.

2011 Primaries and Runoffs for Statewide offices/Congress

Candidate updates:

California: Senate Class 1: Don J. Grundmann (American Independent) - added; Michael Stollaire (Republican) - added. House CD 4: Ben Emery (Green) - added. House CD 8: Philip Berg (Libertarian) - added. House CD 14: Paul Lazaga (Libertarian) - added. House CD 17: Jeff Taylor (Republican) - added. House CD 23: Tom Watson (Republican) - added. House CD 30: Chuck Wilkerson (Republican) - added. House CD 36 Special: Mark Contreras (Democratic) - added; Loraine Goodwin (Democratic) - added. House CD 52: Terri Linnell (Republican) - added. House CD 53: Michael Crimmins (Republican) - added.

Florida: Senate Class 1: former state Representative Adam Hasner (Republican) - added.

Nevada: House CD 2: Kirk S. Lippold (Republican) - added.

New York: House CD 26 Special: state Assemblywoman Jane L. Corwin (Republican, Conservative, Independence) - previously listed as Republican, Conservative.

Alabama: House CD 2: Congressman Martha Roby (Republican) - added as candidate.

Florida: House CD 12: Congressman Dennis Alan Ross (Republican) - added as candidate.

Illinois: House CD 14: Congressman Randall M. "Randy" Hultgren (Republican) - added as candidate.

Nevada: Senate Class 1: Congressman Dean Heller (Republican) - running for Senate. House CD 2: Congressman Dean Heller (Republican) - Open Seat; former state Senator Mark Amodei (Republican) - added.

New Mexico: House CD 1: former state Rep. Janice E. Arnold-Jones (Republican) - added.

New York: House CD 6: Congressman Gregory Weldon Meeks (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Pennsylvania: House CD 1: Congressman Robert A. "Bob" Brady (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Wisconsin: House CD 8: Congressman Reid J. Ribble (Republican) - added as candidate.

• The Florida Republican Presidency 5 Straw Poll will be held on Thursday 22 September 2011 - Saturday 24 September 2011.
• The Texas Democratic Party has released their draft Delegate Selection plan. They will begin their process with a state-run Presidential Primary and party-run Precinct Caucuses on Tuesday 6 March 2012. The second tier is the County and Senate District Conventions on Saturday 24 March 2012. The third and final tier is the Friday 8 June - Saturday 9 June 2012 State Convention. National Convention district delegate preferences are determined by the Primary and the pledged PLEO and At-Large delegate preferences are set at the State Convention.

California: House CD 36 Special: Hermosa Beach City Councilman Patrick "Kit" Bobko (Republican) - added.

Florida: House CD 22: Patrick A. Daniel (Democratic) - added.

Missouri: Lieutenant Governor: state Representative Steven "Steve" Tilley (Republican) - added.

Nevada: Senate Class 1: Byron Georgiou (Democratic) - added.

New York: House CD 26 Special: John R. "Jack" Davis (Independent) - Pending, previously listed as Republican.

On 9 March 2011, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo (Democratic) called a special election for Tuesday 24 May 2011 to fill the seat formerly held by Congressman Christopher J. "Chris" Lee (Republican) who resigned on 9 February 2011. There will be no partisan primary. Party nominees are chosen by party leaders in CD 26 which includes Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Monroe, and Livingston counties. Independent candidates must gather 3,500 signatures.

Vermont: Senate Class 1: Cris Ericson (Marijuana) - added. Governor: Cris Ericson (Marijuana) - added.

Delaware: House At-Large: Rose Izzo (Republican) - added.

Michigan: Senate Class 1: former Juvenile Court Judge Randy Hekman (Republican) - added.

Nevada: Senate Class 1: Senator John Eric Ensign (Republican) - Open Seat. On 7 March 2011, the Senator announced that he would retire at the end of his current term. He was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000 and re-elected in 2006. Before that, he was elected to the U.S. House in 1994 and 1996.

New York: House CD 25: Brianne-Elise Murphy (Democratic) - added. House CD 26 Special: David Bellavia (Independent [Republican]) - previously listed as Republican; state Assemblywoman Jane L. Corwin (Republican, Conservative) - previously listed as Republican.

Ohio: House CD 18: Zachary T. "Zack" Space (Democratic) - added.

Pennsylvania: Attorney General: Belated update: Attorney General Tom Corbett (Republican), who was first elected in 2004 and re-elected in 2008, ran for and won the Governor's Chair in 2010. On 19 January 2011, Attorney General Tom Corbett resigned to take the oath of office as Governor and William H. Ryan, Jr. (Republican) became the state's Acting Attorney General. Mr. Ryan will serve until the Governor nominates and the Pennsylvania Senate confirms a person to serve the remainder of the current term which expires in January 2013. On 8 February 2011, Governor Corbett nominated former Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Kelly to become the next Attorney General.

Oregon: House CD 1: Stephan Andrew Brodhead (Republican) - added.

California: House CD 36 Special: Redondo Beach Mayor Michael A. "Mike" Gin (Republican) - added.

Illinois: House CD 13: Congressman Judy Biggert (Republican) - added as candidate.

Maryland: House CD 2: state Delegate Patrick L. "Pat" McDonough (Republican) - added.

New Mexico: Senate Class 1: former Congressman Heather Wilson (Republican) - added.

California: House CD 36: Congressman Jane Harman (Democratic) has resigned to become the President and CEO of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. She was first elected to the U.S. House in 1992 and served 3 terms before an unsuccessful race for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1998. She returned to House in 2000 and served until her 28 February 2011 resignation. Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr. will call special election to fill the vacant seat.

The Partisan Composition of the U.S. House is 192 Democrats, 241 Republicans, and 2 vacant seats (CA CD 36 and NY CD 26).

Florida: House CD 1: Congressman Jefferson B. "Jeff" Miller (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 8: Congressman Daniel "Dan" Webster (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 15: Congressman William "Bill" Posey (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 25: Congressman David Rivera (Republican) - added as candidate.

Hawaii: Senate Class 1: Senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka (Democratic) - Announced retirement. The Senator was appointed by Governor John Waihee (Democrat) on 16 May 1990 to fill vacancy caused by the death of Senator Spark M. Matsunaga (Democrat) on 15 April 1990. He was elected to finish out the term in a 1990 Special Election and elected to full terms in 1994, 2000, and 2006. He also served in U.S. House from 1976 to 1988.

Illinois: House CD 2: Congressman Jesse Louis Jackson, Jr. (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Mississippi: Governor: William Bond "Bill" Compton, Jr. (Democratic) - added; Shawn O'Hara (Reform) - added; William D. Oatis (Independent) - added; Guy Dale Shaw (Democratic) - added. Lieutenant Governor: Tracella Lou O'Hara Hill (Reform) - added. Secretary of State: Ricky Dombrowski (Republican) - added; Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann (Republican) - added as candidate; John Luke Pannell (Reform) - added. Treasurer: Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran (Democratic) - added; Shawn O'Hara (Democratic, Reform) - added. Auditor of Public Accounts: Ashley Norwood (Reform) - added; Auditor of Public Accounts Stacey E. Pickering (Republican) - added as candidate. Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce: Joel Gill (Democratic) - added; Cathy L. Toole (Reform) - added. Commissioner of Insurance: Insurance Commissioner Michael Jackson "Mike" Chaney (Republican) - added as candidate; Louis Fondren (Democratic) - added; Barbara Dale Washer (Reform) - added.

New York: House CD 19: Congressman Nan Hayworth (Republican) - added as candidate.

Pennsylvania: House CD 11: Congressman Louis J. "Lou" Barletta (Republican) - added as candidate.

Louisiana: House CD 2: Congressman Cedric L. Richmond (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Michigan: House CD 3: Congressman Justin Amash (Republican) - added as candidate.

Texas: House CD 15: Congressman Rubén E. Hinojosa (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 17: Congressman William "Bill" Flores (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 20: Congressman Charles A. Gonzalez (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 22: Congressman Peter Graham "Pete" Olson (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 27: Congressman Randolph Blake "Blake" Farenthold (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 28: Congressman Henry R. Cuellar (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 29: Congressman Raymond E. "Gene" Green (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Vermont: House At-Large: Congressman Peter F. Welch (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Virginia: House CD 1: Congressman Robert J. "Rob" Wittman (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 8: Congressman James P. "Jim" Moran, Jr. (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 11: Congressman Gerald E. "Gerry" Connolly (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Washington: House CD 1: Congressman Jay R. Inslee (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 3: Congressman Jaime Lynn Herrera Beutler (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 4: Jerame V. "Jay" Clough (Democratic) - added. House CD 6: Congressman Norman D. "Norm" Dicks (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 7: Congressman James Adelbert "Jim" McDermott (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 8: Congressman Dave Reichert (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 9: Congressman David Adam "Adam" Smith (Democratic) - added as candidate.

West Virginia: Senate Class 1: Senator Joe Manchin, III (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 1: former Congressman Alan Bowlby Mollohan (Democratic) - added; Daniel Scott Swisher (Republican) - added.

Wisconsin: House CD 3: Congressman Ron Kind (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 5: Congressman F. James "Jim" Sensenbrenner, Jr. (Republican) - added as candidate.

Arizona: Senate Class 1: Richard Grayson (Green) - added.

California: House CD 3: Amerish Bera (Democratic) - added. House CD 11: Ricky Gill (Republican) - added. House CD 36 Special: Marcy Winograd (Democratic) - added.

Connecticut: House CD 5: former state Representative Elizabeth H. Esty (Democratic) - added; Mark Daniel Greenberg (Republican) - added.

Missouri: Secretary of State: Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (Democratic) - added as candidate; state Senator Bill Stouffer (Republican) - added.

Nebraska: Senate Class 1: Russell Paul Anderson (Independent) - added.

New Jersey: Senate Class 1: Jeffrey" Jeff" Boss (Democratic) - added. House CD 6: Borough of Highlands Mayor Anna C. Little (Republican) - added. House CD 11: Jim Gawron (Libertarian) - added.

Pennsylvania: House CD 12: Congressman Mark S. Critz (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 14: Congressman Mike Doyle (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 15: Congressman Charles W. "Charlie" Dent (Republican) - added as candidate; Jake Towne (No Party Affiliation) - added.

Rhode Island: House CD 1: Congressman David N. Cicilline (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Tennessee: House CD 3: Congressman Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 4: Congressman Scott Eugene DesJarlais (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 5: Congressman James H. S. "Jim" Cooper (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 6: Congressman Diane Lynn Black (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 8: Congressman Stephen Lee "Steve" Fincher (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 9: Congressman Stephen Ira "Steve" Cohen (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Texas: Senate Class 1: Marshall Glenn Addison (Republican) - added; Michael Louis "Mike" George (Republican) - added; John Sharp (Democratic) - added. House CD 5: Congressman Jeb Hensarling (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 7: Congressman John Culberson (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 11: Congressman K. Michael "Mike" Conaway (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 13: Congressman Mac Thornberry (Republican) - added as candidate.

The Nevada Democrats have posted their draft Delegate Selection plan. They will begin with their pre-window Non-binding Precinct Viability Caucuses on Saturday 18 February 2012. The second tier is the County Conventions on Saturday 14 April 2012. The third and final tier is the Saturday 9 June to Sunday 10 June 2012 State Convention. The national convention delegate preferences are determined at the State Convention.

California: House CD 42: Congressman Gary G. Miller (Republican) - added as candidate.

Florida: Senate Class 1: Ron Rushing (Republican) - added. House CD 14: James Roach (Democratic) - added.

Louisiana: House CD 6: Congressman William "Bill" Cassidy (Republican) - added as candidate.

Ohio: House CD 2: Congressman Jeannette H. "Jean" Schmidt (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 4: Congressman James D. "Jim" Jordan (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 15: Congressman Steve E. Stivers (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 16: former Congressman John A. Boccieri (Democratic) - added; Congressman James B. "Jim" Renacci (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 17: Congressman Timothy J. "Tim" Ryan (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 18: Congressman Robert Brian "Bob" Gibbs (Republican) - added as candidate.

Oklahoma: House CD 2: Congressman David Daniel "Dan" Boren (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 4: Congressman Tom Cole (Republican) - added as candidate.

Oregon: House CD 2: Congressman Gregory Paul "Greg" Walden (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 3: Congressman Earl Blumenauer (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Pennsylvania: House CD 4: Congressman Jason Altmire (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 6: Congressman Jim Gerlach (Republican) - added as candidate; Manan Trivedi (Democratic) - added. House CD 8: Congressman Michael G. "Mike" Fitzpatrick (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 9: Congressman William Franklin "Bill" Shuster (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 10: former Congressman Christopher Paul "Chris" Carney (Democratic) - added.

On 23 February 2011, Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter (Republican) signed HB 60 which changes the statutes affecting the dates of the regular partisan and the Democratic and Republican Presidential primaries from the 4th to the 3rd Tuesday in May-- 15 May 2012.

In 2008, the Idaho Democrats nominated their Presidential delegates by caucus while the Republicans nominated by primary. This action makes Idaho the first state to move their 2012 Presidential Primary. And with that, to an "earlier" date!-- albeit not by all that much.

California: House CD 1: Congressman C. Michael "Mike" Thompson (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 23: former Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado (Republican) - added. House CD 26: state Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (Democratic) - previously listed as a candidate for House CD 29.

Michigan: House CD 12: Congressman Sander M. "Sandy" Levin (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Minnesota: House CD 1: Congressman Timothy J. "Tim" Walz (Democratic-Farmer Labor) - added as candidate. House CD 4: Congressman Betty McCollum (Democratic-Farmer Labor) - added as candidate. House CD 5: Congressman Keith Maurice Ellison (Democratic-Farmer Labor) - added as candidate.

Mississippi: House CD 1: Congressman Patrick Alan "Alan" Nunnelee (Republican) - added as candidate.

Missouri: House CD 1: Congressman William Lacy Clay, Jr. (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 3: Congressman Russ Carnahan (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 5: Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 9: Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (Republican) - added as candidate.

Nevada: House CD 2: Congressman Dean Heller (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 3: Congressman Joseph John "Joe" Heck (Republican) - added as candidate.

New Jersey: House CD 1: Congressman Robert E. "Rob" Andrews (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 2: Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 5: Congressman Ernest Scott "Scott" Garrett (Republican) - added as candidate.

New Mexico: Senate Class 1: Andres Valdez (Democratic) - added.

New York: Senate Class 1: Senator Kirsten Elizabeth Gillibrand (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 1: Congressman Timothy H. "Tim" Bishop (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 2: Congressman Steve J. Israel (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 4: Congressman Carolyn McCarthy (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 7: Congressman Joseph "Joe" Crowley (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 9: Congressman Anthony D. Weiner (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 16: Congressman José E. Serrano (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 17: Congressman Eliot L. Engel (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 18: Congressman Nita M. Lowey (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 26 Special: David Bellavia (Republican) - added.

North Carolina: House CD 1: Congressman G. K. Butterfield (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 2: Congressman Renee Jacisin Ellmers (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 6: Congressman John Howard "Howard" Coble (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 7: Congressman Mike McIntyre (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 11: Congressman Joseph Heath "Heath" Shuler (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 12: Congressman Melvin L. "Mel" Watt (Democratic) - added as candidate.

North Dakota: House At-Large: Congressman Richard A. "Rick" Berg (Republican) - added as candidate.

Oregon: House CD 4: Congressman Peter Anthony "Pete" DeFazio (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Texas: Senate Class 1: former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert (Republican) - added.

Wisconsin: House CD 7: Congressman Sean P. Duffy (Republican) - added as candidate.

Arkansas: House CD 2: Congressman John Timothy "Tim" Griffin (Republican) - added as candidate.

Illinois: House CD 5: Congressman Mike Quigley (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 9: Congressman Janice D. "Jan" Schakowsky (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 10: Congressman Robert James "Bob" Dold, Jr. (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 12: Congressman Jerry F. Costello (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 16: Congressman Donald A. Manzullo (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 19: Congressman John M. Shimkus (Republican) - added as candidate.

Indiana: Governor: Evansille Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel (Democratic) - apparently not a candidate. House CD 2: Congressman Joseph Simon "Joe" Donnelly (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 3: Congressman Marlin A. Stutzman (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 6: Congressman Mike Pence (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 7: Congressman André D. Carson (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 9: Travis Hankins (Republican) - added.

Iowa: House CD 3: Congressman Leonard L. Boswell (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Kansas: House CD 4: Congressman Michael Richard "Mike" Pompeo (Republican) - added as candidate.

Kentucky: House CD 4: Congressman Geoffrey C. "Geoff" Davis (Republican) - added as candidate.

Louisiana: House CD 3: Congressman Jeffrey M. "Jeff" Landry (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 7: Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (Republican) - added as candidate.

Maine: House CD 1: Congressman Chellie M. Pingree (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Maryland: House CD 4: Congressman Donna Fern Edwards (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 5: Congressman Steny Hamilton Hoyer (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 7: Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 8: Congressman Christopher "Chris" Van Hollen, Jr. (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Massachusetts: Senate Class 1: Senator Scott P. Brown (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 3: Congressman James P. "Jim" McGovern (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 7: Congressman Edward John "Ed" Markey (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 10: Congressman William Richard "Bill" Keating (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Michigan: House CD 4: Congressman David Lee "Dave" Camp (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 6: Congressman Frederick Stephen "Fred" Upton (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 9: Congressman Gary Peters (Democratic) - added as candidate.

New York: House CD 26 Special: John R. "Jack" Davis (Republican) - apparently not a candidate; Kathy Weppner (Republican) - apparently not a candidate.

Virginia: Senate Class 1: David McCormick (Republican) - added.

Happy Presidents' Day! And in their honor, we have posted the preliminary draft of our state by state pages for the 2012 Presidential Nominating Process.

Delegate Counts

As far as we know, the Republican Party has not released their 2012 delegate allocation. So we did the math. The results are here and the detailed math is here.

On 15 December 2010-- a week before the Census Bureau released the results of the latest census-- the Democrats released their 2012 delegate allocation using the 2000 census as a base. We assume the Democrats will re-compute their numbers using the 2010 Census. This would increase the delegate count for those states gaining Presidential electors (AZ, FL, GA, NV, SC, TX, UT, and WA) and decrease the count for those losing electors (IL, IA, LA, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NY, OH, and PA). The delegate allocation results using the 2010 Census are here and the detailed math is here.

Process

Since state parties are just beginning to work on their 2012 processes, we have begun using the 2008 plans as a template marking entries as "tentative". Our pages will be updated and notices posted to this blog as the new plans are formalized.

Dates

Our 2012 Presidential Primary and Caucus calendar uses dates established by either currently-effective State statute or formal party plan. Where the foregoing information could not be obtained, the state's 2008 associated dates are adjusted to the corresponding dates in 2012. For example, if a convention was held on the 3rd Tuesday in May 2008, we would assume the 3rd Tuesday in May for 2012. Estimated dates are marked "tentative".

The old 2008 calendar established a 5 February 2008 starting date for most states. And, more than handful of states changed their statute to primary on or shortly after this date.

In August 2010, both the Democratic and Republican Parties released their frameworks for the 2012 calendar. Both parties allow IA, NH, NV, and SC to begin in February with other states starting no earlier than 6 March 2012. However, in some states, the new party rules are in direct conflict with existing state law. How this all plays out is anyone's guess but hey-- politics is the best show in town. A list of states in the process of changing their primary laws is here. Two websites that are closely following changes to Presidential Primary election law are Frontloading HQ and Ballot Access News.

2008 Penalties enforced against non-compliant States

In 2008 Democratic Parties in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida, and Michigan began their process before the dates specified in the DNC Delegate Selection Rules of 19 August 2006. None of those states was ultimately sanctioned but, with much drama throughout the 2008 Democratic National Convention delegate selection process (that is: the pre-Convention caucus/Primary "season"), Florida and Michigan were told, at first, they would suffer a 100% delegation penalty (that is, neither State would be allowed to cast any vote at all on the floor of the ensuing Convention), then a 50% penalty (in which each delegate from the two offending States would be permitted to cast but 1/2 vote) but, finally, no penalty at all (in the end, both Florida and Michigan were expressly allowed to cast their full complement of delegate votes during the Roll Call of the States re: the Presidential Nomination).

In November 2007, the Republican National Committee, without much of the fanfare that accompanied the similar issues being dealt with at the same time by the Democrats, sanctioned 5 states for their plans to begin their delegate selection processes prior to 5 February 2008 in violation of Party Rule 16. Florida, New Hampshire, Michigan, South Carolina, and Wyoming thereby each forfeited half of their delegates to the National Convention (and, indeed, each delegation from each of these 5 non-compliant states cast but 1/2 of their unsanctioned vote on the floor of the ensuing Republican National Convention).

A de facto National Primary?

States that started their delegate selection processes on or about the first Tuesday in February 2008 (the earliest date for most states under the rules in both major Parties) might very well wish to retain their position at the start of the process for such states. These states have but two choices: they can either ignore the new rules (by holding a caucus or Primary in February under state laws simply left unaltered going into 2012) or move to the first Tuesday in March (the earliest date for such states under the rules in both major Parties for 2012). Those that so move the caucus and/or Primary dates back in order to be compliant with said Party rules would join the states already starting their delegate selection process on the first Tuesday in March (the date used by such states back in 2008). In such a case, we would have what would effectively be a de facto "National Primary" that, at least hypothetically, could involve more states than had the 5 February 2008 "Super Duper Tuesday". Larger states complain that only the voters in the few (smaller in population) states get to choose from the full complement of contenders for a Party's presidential nomination, yet it is the larger states that find themselves in the position of "paying for the cake but not eating it" (in that more money comes into the campaign coffers of presidential contenders from these larger states, but this money then tends to be disproportionately spent in those few smaller states permitted by the Parties to hold their caucuses and/or primaries before these larger states can).

Perhaps, then, the threat to Iowa and New Hampshire's influence is not from challenges such as those launched by Florida and Michigan back in 2008 but, rather, from the potential threat of just such a de facto National Primary. With the current system, candidates commit significant resources to only a few states- those which are specifically permitted, by the Parties, to hold their first step in delegate selection (whether caucus or Primary Election) earlier than other states- and hope their opponents will be forced (through lack of success for said opponents in said caucus[es] or Primar[y/ies], depending) drop out quickly (indeed: the Parties openly, and consistently, support just such a scenario because these early caucuses and Primaries act as the proverbial "machine that would go of itself" in winnowing the field down quickly which, in turn, allows the Parties [which themselves benefit from reducing the number of presidential contenders from which most caucus participants and Primary voters- meaning those in the many states forced to wait before holding their caucuses and/or Primaries- will be able to choose, thereby reducing the chances that the "wrong" candidate- from a Party's perspective- will end up with the nomination] to maintain "clean hands" [in that the 'winnowing out' process is not orchestrated by the Party hierarchy directly] .

With what amounts, in essence, to a National Primary, on the other hand, candidates can potentially wait a month- that is, until after the early states have (with the Parties' blessing) already held their caucuses and/or Primaries- and distribute those very resources over a greater number states for a potentially larger number of delegates to be gained. The basic problem, going into 2012, is that we do, in fact, now have something of a de facto National Primary in both Major Parties (for there is nothing in either Party's rules preventing every State or equivalent jurisdiction not permitted to do so earlier from, should they so desire, holding their caucuses and Primaries on the same date once the few early States have already done so) while, at the same time, attempting to maintain the 'winnowing out' effects of the early caucus and Primary states being allowed, by the Parties, to even be early.

One only has to ponder what might happen when- if not in 2012, then later (but not too much later)- one or more contenders for the presidential nomination in either, if not both, major Parties (especially those contenders more likely to be 'winnowed out' even should they spend an inordinate amount of time and money campaigning in, say, Iowa and New Hampshire) figure out that they much more would need to cull (and, indeed, would be better off seeking to gain the pledges of) delegates in a de facto National Primary caused by most states holding caucuses and/or Primaries on the same date than worry all that much about what, for the most part, are but "slim pickin's" in terms of numbers of pledged delegates either Iowa or New Hampshire (or, for that matter, Nevada or South Carolina) can possibly offer to then appreciate how untenable (here thinking beyond 2012) such a caucus/Primary schedule as the Republicans, in particular (since one has to presume that President Obama will be the principal- if not the only- contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2012), will be utilizing in 2012 might yet turn out to be!

Arizona: House CD 6: former state Senator Chuck Gray (Republican) - added.

California: House CD 36 Special: Matt Petersen (Democratic) - added.

Connecticut: House CD 2: John Arthur Foley (Republican) - added.

Florida: House CD 8: Kurt Kelly (Republican) - added. House CD 9: Congressman Gus Michael Bilirakis (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 13: Congressman Vernon "Vern" Buchanan (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 16: Congressman Thomas Joseph "Tom" Rooney (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 17: Congressman Frederica S. Wilson (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 19: Congressman Theodore Eliot "Ted" Deutch (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Georgia: House CD 3: Congressman Lynn Acton Westmoreland (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 5: Congressman John R. Lewis (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 6: Congressman Thomas Edmunds "Tom" Price (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 7: Congressman William Robert "Rob" Woodall, III (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 8: Congressman James Austin "Austin" Scott (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 9: Congressman John Thomas "Tom" Graves, Jr. (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 10: Congressman Paul Collins Broun, Jr. (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 11: Congressman John Phillip "Phil" Gingrey (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 12: Congressman John J. Barrow (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Hawaii: House CD 1: Congressman Colleen Wakako Hanabusa (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 2: Congressman Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Illinois: House CD 3: John M. Atkinson (Democratic) - added.

Iowa: House CD 1: Congressman Bruce L. Braley (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Kentucky: House CD 4: John William Waltz (Democratic) - added.

Maryland: House CD 3: Congressman John Peter Spyros Sarbanes (Democratic) - added as candidate.

New York: House CD 4: Frank Scaturro (Republican) - added.

Ohio: House CD 9: Congressman Marcy C. Kaptur (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Washington: House CD 4: Congressman Doc Hastings (Republican) - added as candidate.

Alabama: House CD 5: Congressman Morris J. "Mo" Brooks, Jr. (Republican) - added as candidate.

California: House CD 36 Special: Redondo Beach City Attorney Mike Webb (Republican) - added. House CD 45: Congressman Mary Bono Mack (Republican) - added as candidate; Palm Springs Mayor Stephen P. "Steve" Pougnet (Democratic) - added. House CD 46: Barak Lurie (Republican) - added; Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 47: Congressman Loretta Sanchez (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 51: Congressman Bob Filner (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 52: Congressman Duncan Duane Hunter (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 53: Congressman Susan A. Davis (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Colorado: House CD 6: Congressman Mike Coffman (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 7: Congressman Edwin G. "Ed" Perlmutter (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Connecticut: Senate Class 1: Paul Passarelli (Libertarian) - added. House CD 1: Congressman John B. Larson (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 3: Congressman Rosa L. DeLauro (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 4: Congressman Jim Himes (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Delaware: House At-Large: Congressman John Charles Carney, Jr. (Democratic) - added as candidate.

District of Columbia: Delegate to the House of Representatives: Territorial Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Florida: House CD 2: Congressman William Steve "Steve" Southerland, II (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 4: Congressman Ander M. Crenshaw (Republican) - added as candidate.

New Mexico: Senate Class 1: Senator Jesse F. "Jeff" Bingaman, Jr. (Democratic) - Open Seat. Here is a list of Open Governor's Chairs, Senate and House Seats.

New York: House CD 26 Special: state Assemblywoman Jane L. Corwin (Republican) - added; John R. "Jack" Davis (Republican) - added; Kathy Weppner (Republican) - added.

Virginia: House CD 7: Rickard Elian "Rick" Waugh, Jr. (Democratic) - added.

California: House CD 24: Congressman Elton Gallegly (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 27: Congressman Brad Sherman (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 28: Congressman Howard L. Berman (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 29: state Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (Democratic) - added. House CD 30: David Benning (Republican) - added; Congressman Henry A. Waxman (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 31: Congressman Xavier Becerra (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 32: Congressman Judy Chu (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 33: Congressman Karen Bass (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 34: Congressman Lucille Roybal-Allard (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 35: Congressman Maxine Waters (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 37: Congressman Laura Richardson (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 38: Congressman Grace Flores Napolitano (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 39: Congressman Linda T. Sánchez (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 43: Congressman Joe Baca (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 44: Congressman Kenneth S. "Ken" Calvert (Republican) - added as candidate.

Florida: House CD 20: Congressman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Louisiana: Secretary of State: state Representative Walker Hines (Republican) - added.

Michigan: House CD 5: Congressman Dale E. Kildee (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Arizona: Senate Class 1: Congressman Jeff Flake (Republican) - added. House CD 6: Congressman Jeff Flake (Republican) - Open Seat; state Senator Russell Pearce (Republican) - added.

California: House CD 11: Congressman Jerry McNerney (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 12: Congressman Jackie Speier (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 14: Congressman Anna G. Eshoo (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 17: Congressman Sam Farr (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 18: Michael Clare "Mike" Berryhill, Sr. (Republican) - added; Congressman Dennis A. Cardoza (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 19: Congressman Jeff Denham (Republican) - added as candidate.

Illinois: House CD 18: Congressman Aaron Jon Schock (Republican) - added as candidate.

Maryland: House CD 1: Congressman Andrew P. "Andy" Harris (Republican) - added as candidate.

New York: House CD 15: Congressman Charles B. "Charlie" Rangel (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Virginia: House CD 10: Congressman Frank R. Wolf (Republican) - added as candidate.

Alabama: House CD 4: Congressman Robert Brown Aderholt (Republican) - added as candidate.

Arizona: House CD 7: Christopher John "Chris" Flowers (Republican) - added.

Arkansas: House CD 1: Congressman Eric Alan "Rick" Crawford (Republican) - added as candidate.

California: Senate Class 1: Timothy Charles "Tim" Kalemkarian (Republican) - added. House CD 24: Timothy Charles Kalemkarian (Republican) - added.

Colorado: House CD 1: Congressman Diana L. DeGette (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Florida: House CD 3: Gerald Paul Nyren (Libertarian) - added.

Illinois: House CD 18: Matthew Aaron "Matt" Woodmancy (Democratic) - added.

Indiana: House CD 1: Mark J. Leyva (Republican) - added.

Maine: Senate Class 1: Andrew Ian Dodge (Republican) - added.

Maryland: House CD 6: Brandon Orman Rippeon (Republican) - added.

Ohio: House CD 10: Kenneth Mark "Mark" Kevesdy (Independent) - added.

Pennsylvania: House CD 7: Congressman Patrick L. "Pat" Meehan (Republican) - added as candidate.

Rhode Island: Senate Class 1: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, II (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Texas: House CD 10: Congressman Michael T. McCaul (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 19: Congressman Randy Neugebauer (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 21: Congressman Lamar Smith (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 26: Congressman Michael C. Burgess (Republican) - added as candidate.

West Virginia: Governor Special: Bob Henry Baber (Mountain) - added; Mitch B. Carmichael (Republican) - added; Ralph William Clark (Republican) - added; Cliff Ellis (Republican) - added; Larry V. Faircloth (Republican) - added; Delegate Patrick Lane (Republican) - apparently not a candidate; Bill Maloney (Republican) - added; Arne Moltis (Democratic) - added; Treasurer John D. Perdue (Democratic) - added.

The American Conservative Union Conference (CPAC) has published their 2012 Presidential Straw Poll results.

The conference was held 10 to 12 February 2011. 3,742 CPAC registrants from the 50 States plus the District of Columbia were represented in the balloting.

In the first choice poll, 2 individuals received more than 10% of the vote: Texas Congressman Ron Paul: 30% and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney: 23%.

The next three contenders were: former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson: 6%, New Jersey Governor Chris Cristie: 6% , and Other: 5%.

When the delegates were asked for their first and second choices, 3 individuals received more than 10% of the vote: Texas Congressman Ron Paul: 18.5%, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney: 15.5%, and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson: 10.5%.

For grins, contrast a sample of the 2008 Presidential Straw Polls to the actual results of the 2008 Republican Convention.

American Samoa: Delegate to the House of Representatives: Territorial Delegate Eni F.H. Faleomavaega (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Arizona: Senate Class 1: Senator Jon L. Kyl (Republican) - Open Seat, he will not run for re-election in 2012. House CD 2: Charles Roland Black (Republican) - added. House CD 3: Congressman Ben Quayle (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 4: Congressman Edward L. "Ed" Pastor (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 8: Congressman Gabrielle "Gabby" Giffords (Democratic) - added as candidate; Jesse Kelly (Republican) - added.

Arkansas: House CD 4: Congressman Michael Avery "Mike" Ross (Democratic) - added as candidate.

California: House CD 4: Congressman Thomas "Tom" McClintock (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 5: Congressman Doris K. Matsui (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 7: Congressman George Miller (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 36 Special: Mervin Evans (Democratic) - added.

Illinois: House CD 11: Congressman Adam Kinzinger (Republican) - added as candidate.

Minnesota: House CD 1: Randy Lee Demmer (Republican) - added.

Montana: Governor: Neil C. Livingstone (Republican) - added.

New Jersey: House CD 4: Congressman Christopher H. "Chris" Smith (Republican) - added as candidate.

Florida: Senate Class 1: Akinyemi Agbede (Republican) - added. House CD 6: Steven "Steve" Schonberg (Independent) - added. House CD 11: Eddie Adams, Jr. (Republican) - added. House CD 20: James Gleason (Republican) - added; Joe Goldner (Republican) - added.

Indiana: House CD 6: County Council President Nathan S. "Nate" LaMar (Republican) - added.

Minnesota: House CD 6: Congressman Michele M. Bachmann (Republican) - added as candidate.

Nebraska: Senate Class 1: Senator E. Benjamin "Ben" Nelson (Democratic) - added as candidate.

New York: House CD 26: Congressman Christopher J. "Chris" Lee (Republican) - Vacant Office. Mr. Lee resigned amid reports that he sent photographs and emails to a woman who is not his wife. Mr. Lee has stated "I regret the harm that my actions have caused ... I deeply and sincerely apologize ... I am announcing that I have resigned my seat in Congress effective immediately." Governor Andrew M. Cuomo will call a special election to fill the vacant seat.

The Partisan Composition of the U.S. House is 193 Democrats, 241 Republicans, and 1 vacant seat (NY CD 26).

Virginia: Senate Class 1: Senator James H. "Jim" Webb, Jr. (Democratic) - Open Seat - Senator Webb announced that he would not seek re-election.

California: House CD 16: Congressman Zoe Lofgren (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 36 Special: Secretary of State Debra Bowen (Democratic) - added.

Georgia: House CD 2: Congressman Sanford Dixon Bishop, Jr. (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Illinois: House CD 17: Congressman Robert Todd "Bobby" Schilling (Republican) - added as candidate.

New York: House CD 8: Congressman Jerrold Lewis "Jerry" Nadler (Democratic) - added as candidate.

North Carolina: House CD 7: Ilario Gregory Pantano (Republican) - added.

An 8 February 2011 release by the Republican Party of Iowa states "The Iowa caucuses will take place on February 6, 2012.". We have updated our 2012 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions Major Events calendar accordingly.

California: House CD 36 Special: Reports state Congressman Jane Harman (Democratic) will announced her resignation on 8 February to become the President and CEO of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Once a vacancy is declared, California Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr. will call special election. All candidates, both party members and independents, will participate in a non-partisan Special Primary. If one candidate receives a majority (50% + 1) of the primary vote, that candidate is elected. Otherwise, the top two vote getters, regardless of party, will then advance to a Special General Election. Candidate for the special election: Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn (Democratic) - added.

Massachusetts: House CD 1: Congressman John Walter Olver (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Michigan: Senate Class 1: Saul Anuzis (Republican) - added.

Ohio: Senate Class 1: Rusty Bliss (Republican) - added.

West Virginia: Governor Special: On 7 February 2011, Acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin signed HB 2853. The bill establishes a 14 May 2011 Special Gubernatorial Primary for the Democratic, Republican, and Mountain Parties, a 21 May 2011 petition deadline for others, and a 4 October 2011 General Election. The filing deadline for the partisan primary is 12 February 2011. Acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin ascended to the Governor's chair as acting Governor on 15 November 2010 when Governor Joe Manchin, III resigned to take office as a U.S. Senator. Candidates who have filed for the special election include state Senator Clark S. Barnes (Republican), former Secretary of State Betty Ireland (Republican), Jesse Clarence Johnson (Mountain), Delegate Patrick Lane (Republican), Prosecuting Attorney of Putnam County Mark Sorsaia (Republican), Secretary of State Natalie E. Tennant (Democratic), state Delegate Rick Thompson (Democratic), and acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin (Democratic).

California: House CD 20: Congressman Jim Costa (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Florida: House CD 3: Evna Leanne Kolb (Republican) - added.

Indiana: Senate Class 1: Treasurer Richard E. Mourdock (Republican) - added.

Louisiana: House CD 4: Congressman John Calvin Fleming, Jr. (Republican) - added as candidate.

Massachusetts: House CD 1: William Leslie "Bill" Gunn, Jr. (Republican) - added; Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr. (Democratic) - added.

Michigan: House CD 1: Congressman Daniel J. "Dan" Benishek (Republican) - added as candidate.

Minnesota: Senate Class 1: Dick Franson (Democratic-Farmer Labor) - added. House CD 2: Congressman John Paul Kline, Jr. (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 8: Congressman Raymond J. "Chip" Cravaack (Republican) - added as candidate.

Mississippi: Attorney General: Attorney General Jim Hood (Democratic) - added as candidate; Mississippi Public Safety Commissioner Steve Simpson (Republican) - added. Treasurer: Lynn Fitch (Republican) - added; Lucien Smith (Republican) - added.

Missouri: House CD 6: Gerald Nolte (Republican) - added.

Montana: House At-Large: state Representative Franke Wilmer (Democratic) - added.

North Carolina: House CD 8: Congressman Lawrence Webb "Larry" Kissell (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Texas: House CD 4: James Kenneth Johnson (Republican) - added.

Virginia: House CD 10: Kenneth Lee Vaughn (Republican) - added.

Washington: House CD 5: Congressman Cathy Ann McMorris Rodgers (Republican) - added as candidate.

West Virginia: Governor Special: (Democratic) - Incumbent added. Governor: Delegate Patrick Lane (Republican) - added.

Florida: House CD 5: Congressman Richard B. "Rich" Nugent (Republican) - added as candidate.

Indiana: Governor: former Hamilton County Commissioner Jim Wallace (Republican) - added. House CD 6: former Wayne County Sheriff Matt Strittmatter (Republican) - added.

Maryland: House CD 6: Joseph T. "Joe" Krysztoforski (Republican) - added.

Massachusetts: House CD 4: Congressman Barney Frank (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 9: Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Montana: House At-Large: Steven "Steve" Daines (Republican) - Switched from running for U.S. Senate Class 1 to U.S. House At-Large.

New Hampshire: House CD 2: Congressman Charles F. "Charlie" Bass (Republican) - added as candidate.

New York: House CD 4: Francis X. Becker, Jr. (Republican) - added.

North Carolina: House CD 10: Congressman Patrick Timothy McHenry (Republican) - added as candidate.

Oklahoma: House CD 3: Congressman Frank D. Lucas (Republican) - added as candidate.

Texas: House CD 23: Congressman Francisco Raul "Quico" Canseco (Republican) - added as candidate.

West Virginia: Governor: Jesse Clarence Johnson (Mountain) - added.

Alabama: House CD 3: Congressman Michael "Mike" Rogers (Republican) - added as candidate.

California: House CD 9: Congressman Barbara Lee (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Colorado: House CD 5: Congressman Douglas L. "Doug" Lamborn (Republican) - added as candidate.

Florida: House CD 10: Congressman C.W. "Bill" Young (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 22: Congressman Allen Bernard West (Republican) - added as candidate.

Indiana: House CD 2: Jackie Swihart Walorski (Republican) - added. House CD 4: Congressman Theodore Edward "Todd" Rokita (Republican) - added as candidate.

Iowa: House CD 5: Congressman Steven A. "Steve" King (Republican) - added as candidate.

Kentucky: House CD 6: Congressman A.B. "Ben" Chandler, III (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Louisiana: House CD 5: Congressman Rodney Alexander (Republican) - added as candidate.

Michigan: House CD 14: Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Mississippi: Governor: Ron Williams (Republican) - added. House CD 3: Congressman Gregg Harper (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 4: Congressman Steven McCarty Palazzo (Republican) - added as candidate. Treasurer: Lee Yancey (Republican) - added. Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce: Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican) - added.

Missouri: Senate Class 1: Edward R. "Ed" Martin, Jr. (Republican) - added. House CD 6: Clint Hylton (Democratic) - added. House CD 7: Dean Richard Moore, Jr. (Independent) - added.

Montana: Senate Class 1: Congressman Dennis R. "Denny" Rehberg (Republican) - added. House At-Large: Congressman Dennis R. "Denny" Rehberg (Republican) - Open Seat.

Nevada: House CD 1: Congressman Shelley Berkley (Democratic) - added as candidate.

New Jersey: House CD 10: Congressman Donald M. Payne (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 11: Congressman Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (Republican) - added as candidate.

New York: House CD 2: Stephen A. "Steve" Labate (Republican) - added.

North Carolina: Governor: former Charlotte Mayor Patrick "Pat" McCrory (Republican) - added. House CD 12: Lon Vernon Cecil (Libertarian) - added.

Ohio: House CD 1: Congressman Steven J. "Steve" Chabot (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 8: Congressman John A. Boehner (Republican) - added as candidate.

South Carolina: House CD 4: Congressman Harold W. "Trey" Gowdy, III (Republican) - added as candidate.

Texas: House CD 2: Congressman Lloyd "Ted" Poe (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 25: Donna Campbell (Republican) - added; Congressman Lloyd A. Doggett (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Virginia: House CD 5: Congressman Robert Hurt (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 7: Congressman Eric I. Cantor (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 9: Congressman H. Morgan "Morgan" Griffith (Republican) - added as candidate.

Wisconsin: House CD 6: Congressman Thomas E. "Tom" Petri (Republican) - added as candidate.

The Democratic Party has selected Charlotte, North Carolina to host the 46th Democratic National Convention on 3 through 6 September 2012.

Arizona: House CD 5: Congressman David Schweikert (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 7: Gabriela Saucedo Mercer (Republican) - added.

Colorado: House CD 4: Congressman Cory Scott Gardner (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 5: David C. "Dave" Anderson (No Party Affiliation) - added.

Florida: Senate Class 1: William Charles "Chuck" Lynch (Democratic) - added.

New Mexico: House CD 3: Congressman Ben R. Ray Luján (Democratic) - added as candidate.

South Carolina: House CD 6: Congressman James E. "Jim" Clyburn (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Texas: Senate Class 1: Andrew Paredes "Cas" Castanuela (Republican) - added; Nick Latham (Republican) - added; Lela Pittenger (Republican) - added. House CD 3: Congressman Samuel Robert "Sam" Johnson (Republican) - added as candidate.

Read the story from Scott Stanzel.

About 300 (?) attended.

• former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels: 31%
• former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney: 14%
• former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty: 13%
• all others are under 10%

Our archives of '12 straw polls is at Presidential Election 2012 Straw Polls. And just for grins, contrast and compare Election 2008 Straw Polls.

Connecticut: House CD 5: Justin Bernier (Republican) - added; former Litchfield Selectwoman Audrey Blondin (Democratic) - added; Farmington town councillor Michael "Mike" Clark (Republican) - added.

Kentucky: Secretary of State: Secretary of State Elaine Nogay Walker (Democratic) - appointed. Secretary of State C. M. "Trey" Grayson (Republican) will resign on 29 January 2011 to take the position of Director of the Harvard University Institute of Politics. He was first elected in 2003 and re-elected in 2007. On 7 January 2011, Governor Steven L. "Steve" Beshear announced that he will appoint Bowling Green Mayor Elaine Nogay Walker (Democratic) as the new Secretary of State.

Minnesota: House CD 4: Steve Carlson (Independence) - added.

Nebraska: Senate Class 1: Treasurer Don Stenberg (Republican) - added.

Ohio: Senate Class 1: Eric LaMont Gregory (Republican) - added; Michael L. Pryce (Republican) - added. House CD 7: Bill Conner (Democratic) - added.

Oregon: House CD 4: Art Robinson (Republican) - added.

Texas: Senate Class 1: former Solicitor General Ted Cruz (Republican) - added.

Washington: House CD 8: state Representative Roger Goodman (Democratic) - added.

California: House CD 15: Congressman Michael M. "Mike" Honda (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Illinois: House CD 8: Congressman Joe Walsh (Republican) - added as candidate.

Indiana: House CD 1: Congressman Peter J. Visclosky (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Kentucky: Governor: Otis "Bull Man" Hensley, Jr. (Democratic) - apparently not a candidate; Jefferson County Clerk Barbara "Bobbie" Holsclaw (Republican) - added. Secretary of State: Hilda Legg (Republican) - added. Auditor of Public Accounts: Addia Kathryn Wuchner (Republican) - added. Commissioner of Agriculture: John Faris Lackey (Democratic) - added.

Michigan: House CD 9: former state Representative Andrew Edward "Rocky" Raczkowski (Republican) - added.

Minnesota: House CD 7: Vidar Lee "Lee" Byberg (Republican) - added.

Missouri: Lieutenant Governor: Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (Republican) - Open Chair.

New Jersey: Senate Class 1: Lawrence J. "Larry" Donahue (Independent) - added.

Pennsylvania: House CD 3: Congressman George J. "Mike" Kelly, Jr. (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 10: Congressman Thomas Anthony "Tom" Marino (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 18: Congressman Tim Murphy (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 19: Congressman Todd R. Platts (Republican) - added as candidate.

West Virginia: House CD 3: Congressman Nick Joe Rahall, II (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Frank Leone (DNC Virginia) has posted the DNC 2012 Delegate Selection Plan Information at http://demrulz.org/?p=1781. The documents include the Memoranda & Timetable, Rules - Call - Regulations, and the Model Plan.

TheGreenPapers will maintain a synopsis of each state's process at Election 2012 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions.

California: House CD 30: "Nick" Nicholas Joseph Garzilli (Democratic) - added.

Connecticut: House CD 5: John Pistone (Independent) - added.

Florida: House CD 24: Congressman Sandra "Sandy" Adams (Republican) - added as candidate.

Kentucky: Attorney General: Attorney General John William "Jack" Conway (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Michigan: Senate Class 1: Chad Dewey (Republican) - added. House CD 13: George Corsetti (Green) - added.

Missouri: House CD 4: Congressman Vicky Jo Hartzler (Republican) - added as candidate.

Nevada: Senate Class 1: Senator John Eric Ensign (Republican) - added as candidate.

Ohio: House CD 12: Congressman Patrick J. "Pat" Tiberi (Republican) - added as candidate.

Tennessee: House CD 8: James L. Hart (Independent [Republican]) - added.

Texas: Senate Class 1: Sean Peter Hubbard (Democratic) - added.

Utah: House CD 3: Congressman Jason Chaffetz (Republican) - added as candidate.

West Virginia: Governor: Joseph Oliverio (Republican) - added; Scott "Cody" Regan (Republican) - added; Mark Sorsaia (Republican) - added; state Delegate Rick Thompson (Democratic) - added.

Read the stories in Politico, ABC News, WMUR.

276 ballots were cast in the WMUR, ABC News, New Hamphire Republican Party 2012 Presidential Straw Poll.

• former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney: 35%
• Texas Congressman Ron Paul: 11%
• former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty: 8%
• former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin: 7%
• Minnesota Congressman Michele M. Bachmann: 5%
• South Carolina Senator James W. "Jim" DeMint: 5%
• all others are under 5%

Our archives of '12 straw polls is at Presidential Election 2012 Straw Polls. And just for grins, contrast and compare Election 2008 Straw Polls.

California: House CD 8: Congressman Nancy Pelosi (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Connecticut: Senate Class 1: Congressman Christopher Scott "Chris" Murphy (Democratic) - added. House CD 5: Congressman Christopher Scott "Chris" Murphy (Democratic) - Open Seat.

Florida: Senate Class 1: Senator Bill Nelson (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Indiana: House CD 8: Congressman Larry D. Bucshon (Republican) - added as candidate.

Iowa: House CD 2: Congressman David Wayne Loebsack (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Kentucky: Secretary of State: Alison Lundergan Grimes (Democratic) - added. Treasurer: Treasurer L.J. "Todd" Hollenbach (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Michigan: House CD 15: Congressman John D. Dingell (Democratic) - added as candidate.

New Hampshire: House CD 1: Carol Shea-Porter (Democratic) - added.

Ohio: House CD 6: Congressman Bill Johnson (Republican) - added as candidate.

Vermont: Senate Class 1: Auditor of Accounts Thomas M. "Tom" Salmon (Republican) - added. Auditor of Accounts: Auditor of Accounts Thomas M. "Tom" Salmon (Republican) - Open Office.

West Virginia: Governor: Secretary of State Natalie E. Tennant (Democratic) - added; acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin (Democratic) - added as candidate. Secretary of State: Secretary of State Natalie E. Tennant (Democratic) - Open Office.

Regarding the Special Gubernatorial Election: HB 2552 was introducd on 19 January 2011. The bill would create a 14 May 2011 Special Gubernatorial Partisan Primary and a 6 August 2011 Special Gubernatorial Election.

Connecticut: Senate Class 1: Senator Joseph I. "Joe" Lieberman (Independent Democrat) - Open Seat; former Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz (Democratic) - added.

Indiana: Senate Class 1: Senator Richard G. Lugar (Republican) - added as candidate.

Kentucky: Treasurer: Steve Hamrick (Democratic) - added.

Nebraska: House CD 1: Congressman Jeffrey Lane "Jeff" Fortenberry (Republican) - added as candidate.

North Dakota: Senate Class 1: Senator Kent Conrad (Democratic) - Open Seat.

Oklahoma: House CD 1: Congressman John Sullivan (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 5: Congressman James Lankford (Republican) - added as candidate.

Tennessee: House CD 7: Congressman Marsha Blackburn (Republican) - added as candidate.

Texas: House CD 12: Congressman Kay N. Granger (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 32: Congressman Pete Sessions (Republican) - added as candidate.

Vermont: Treasurer: Treasurer Elizabeth "Beth" Pearce (Democratic) - Incumbent appointed December 2010; Treasurer Jeb Spaulding (Democratic/Republican) - became the Secretary of Administration in December 2010.

Virgin Islands: Delegate to the House of Representatives: Territorial Delegate Donna M. Christensen (Democratic) - added as candidate.

West Virginia: House CD 2: Congressman Shelley Moore Capito (Republican) - added as candidate.

On 18 January 2011, the West Virginia Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the state must hold a Special Gubernatorial Election by 15 November 2011. Reference: Citizen Action v. Tomblin - No. 101494. Acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin (Democratic) thought he could serve until the next regular election on Tuesday 6 November 2012. He ascended to the Governor's chair when Governor Joe Manchin, III (Democratic) resigned on 15 November 2010 to take office as a U.S. Senator.

Arizona: House CD 6: Congressman Jeff Flake (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 7: Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Arkansas: House CD 3: Congressman Stephen A. "Steve" Womack (Republican) - added as candidate.

California: House CD 25: Congressman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 40: Congressman Edward R. "Ed" Royce (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 44: Louis Vandenberg (Democratic) - added.

Colorado: House CD 3: Congressman Scott Randall Tipton (Republican) - added as candidate.

Connecticut: House CD 2: Congressman Joseph D. "Joe" Courtney (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Florida: Senate Class 1: Florida state Senate President Mike Haridopolos (Republican) - added. House CD 3: Congressman Corrine Brown (Democratic) - added as candidate; Michael F. "Mike" Yost (Republican) - added.

Georgia: House CD 9: Ken Paul (Write-in) - added.

Indiana: House CD 9: Congressman Todd Christopher Young (Republican) - added as candidate.

Iowa: House CD 4: Congressman Thomas P. "Tom" Latham (Republican) - added as candidate.

Maine: House CD 2: Congressman Michael H. Michaud (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Massachusetts: Senate Class 1: Bob Massie (Democratic) - added.

Montana: Governor: Chouteau County Commissioner Jim O'Hara (Republican) - added.

New Jersey: House CD 12: Congressman Rush D. Holt (Democratic) - added as candidate.

New Mexico: House CD 1: Congressman Martin T. Heinrich (Democratic) - added as candidate.

New York: House CD 5: Congressman Gary L. Ackerman (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 12: Congressman Nydia M. Velazquez (Democratic) - added as candidate. House CD 20: Congressman Christopher Patrick "Chris" Gibson (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 22: George K. Phillips (Republican) - added. House CD 23: Congressman William L. "Bill" Owens (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Ohio: House CD 13: Congressman Betty Sue Sutton (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Oregon: House CD 1: Congressman David Wu (Democratic) - added as candidate.

South Dakota: House At-Large: Congressman Kristi Lynn Noem (Republican) - added as candidate.

Texas: Senate Class 1: Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst (Republican) - added; David Wayne Smith (Republican [Libertarian]) - added; former Railroad Commissioner Michael Lawrence Williams (Republican) - added. Lieutenant Governor: General Land Office Commissioner Jerry Patterson (Republican) - added. House CD 24: Congressman Kenny Ewell Marchant (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 30: Congressman Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democratic) - added as candidate. Commissioner of General Land Office: General Land Office Commissioner Jerry Patterson (Republican) - Open Office. Railroad Commissioner 3: Railroad Commissioner Michael Lawrence Williams (Republican) - Open Office.

Virginia: Senate Class 1: former Senator George F. Allen (Republican) - added. House CD 2: Congressman Edward Scott "Scott" Rigell (Republican) - added as candidate.

Wisconsin: House CD 1: Congressman Paul D. Ryan (Republican) - added as candidate. House CD 4: Congressman Gwendolynne "Gwen" Moore (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Florida: House CD 23: Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (Democratic) - added as candidate.

Kentucky: Secretary of State: Elaine N. Walker (Democratic) - added. Treasurer: K.C. Crosbie (Republican) - added.

Michigan: Senate Class 1: Peter D. Konetchy (Republican) - added.

New Mexico: House CD 1: Albuquerque City Councilor Dan Lewis (Republican) - added.

North Dakota: Senate Class 1: Public Service Commissioner Brian P. Kalk (Republican) - added.

Texas: Senate Class 1: Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (Republican) - Open Seat - not running for re-election in 2012.

Florida: Senate Class 1: Alexander L. George (Republican) - added; Alexander Ilnyckyj (Republican) - added; Josue Larose (Republican) - added. House CD 24: Nicholas Ruiz, III (Democratic) - added.

Kentucky: Secretary of State: Secretary of State C. M. "Trey" Grayson (Republican) - Open Office - plans to resign to join the Harvard University Institute of Politics. Auditor of Public Accounts: Auditor of Public Accounts Crit Luallen (Democratic) - Open Office; Adam Edelen (Democratic) - added. Commissioner of Agriculture: Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer (Republican) - Open Office; Stewart Gritton (Democratic) - added; David Williams (Democratic) - added.

Maine: Senate Class 1: Scott D'Amboise (Republican) - added.

Mississippi: Governor: James Broadwater (Republican) - added; Hudson Holliday (Republican) - added. Lieutenant Governor: Treasurer Tate Reeves (Republican) - added. Treasurer: Treasurer Tate Reeves (Republican) - Open Office. Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce: Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Lester Spell, Jr. (Republican) - Open Office; Max Phillips (Republican) - added.

Montana: Governor: Ron Vandevender (Libertarian) - added; state Senator Dave Wanzenried (Democratic) - added.

North Carolina: House CD 7: Del Pietro (Democratic) - added.

Commentary:
LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF THE WILD WEST
Musings on the attempted assassination of
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the
senseless deaths of others in said attempt
by Richard E. Berg-Andersson TheGreenPapers.com Staff

Media reports state that U.S. District Court Judge John M. Roll was shot and killed in the same incident in which Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords [Democrat, ARIZONA] was seriously wounded by gunfire.

Judge Roll had been the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona and had first been appointed to the Federal bench by President George H.W. Bush in 1991; a native of Pittsburgh, PA, Judge Roll was 63 years old.

Reports that the Congressman Media reports now state that Congressman Gabrielle "Gabby" Giffords (Democratic, Arizona CD 8) was shot at a constituent meeting at a Safeway grocery store in Tuscon and is in surgery at University Medical Center. Fox News, CNN.

Media reports state that Congressman Gabrielle "Gabby" Giffords (Democratic, Arizona CD 8) was shot and killed at a constituent meeting at a Safeway grocery store in Tuscon. Fox News, CNN.

Media reports state that Congressman Gabrielle "Gabby" Giffords (Democratic, Arizona CD 8) was shot at a constituent meeting at a Safeway grocery store in Tuscon. Fox News, CNN.

The final tally of the roll call vote on the floor of the House was as follows:

• for the incoming Speaker of the House John Boehner [R-Ohio]: 241
• for outgoing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi [D-California]: 173
• for Heath Shuler [D- North Carolina]: 11
• for John Lewis [D-Georgia]: 2
• for each of 5 Others: 1 apiece
• Abstention by voting "Present": 1

NOTE: The above was the official tally as announced from the chair by the Clerk of the House at 1:38 PM Eastern Time (1838 GMT), Wednesday 5 January 2011.

Although their respective terms of office officially began at Noon Eastern (1700 GMT) back on Monday 3 January 2011, newly elected (or re-elected) United States Senators and Representatives in Congress will be formally sworn in when each chamber of the new 112th Congress convenes today (Wednesday 5 January 2011). In addition, the U.S. House of Representatives is, as one of its first orders of business, expected to formally elect John Boehner (R-Ohio) as Speaker of the House.

Sessions of the Congress of the United States.

California: House CD 6: state Assemblyman Jared Huffman (Democratic) - added.

Kentucky: Attorney General: Hopkins County Attorney Todd P'Pool (Republican) - added.

Mississippi: Governor: Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant (Republican) - added.

Nebraska: Senate Class 1: Attorney General Jon Bruning (Republican) - added; Pat Flynn (Republican) - added.

Oregon: House CD 1: Pavel Goberman (Republican) - added.

Virginia: Senate Class 1: Jamie Radtke (Republican) - added.

West Virginia: Governor: former Secretary of State Betty Ireland (Republican) - added.

US 2010 Mid-Term Election Report by Adrian Beaumont Special to TheGreenPapers.com

Happy 2011! And with that said...

• The Monthly Rotation of PRESIDENCIES of the United Nations SECURITY COUNCIL is updated for 2011.
• The 2010 Presidencies have been added to the Past PRESIDENCIES of the United Nations SECURITY COUNCIL
• Added the 2011 "Non-PERMANENT MEMBERS of the UN SECURITY COUNCIL" and updated the current electoral format for the 10 non-Permanent members of the Security Council (the table at the bottom of the page) at The United Nations Security Council