Tagged: 2012 election

Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor says the money involved in direct judicial elections is corrupting the legal system.

In Kentucky, judges from the district level to the state supreme court are elected. At the Kentucky Bar Association’s annual convention in Louisville today, O’Connor—the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court—told hundreds of lawyers and judges that judicial elections are in direct conflict with the intent of American justice system. 

Indiana Democratic Senate candidate Joe Donnelly has unveiled a group of Republicans who are supporting him over Tea Party candidate Richard Mourdock in the fall campaign.

The group is made up of former supporters of Republican Senator Dick Lugar, who was defeated in the GOP primary by state Treasurer Richard Mourdock. Its initial six members have pledged to cross party lines and support Donnelly over Mourdock in November.

Donnelly campaign spokeswoman Elizabeth Shappell says GOP voters will back the congressman due to his bipartisan approach.

"Moderate voices and folks who are wiling to compromise are too few and far in between these days. And that’s Joe," she says. "And in order to move this country forward, he truly believes—and as do I think many folks here in Indiana—that we need to work together and find common ground."

Tea Party challenger Marilyn Parker has defeated incumbent Metro Councilman Jon Ackerson in a tight Republican primary in the 18th Council District. 

The contest caught observers’ attention after most GOP council members endorsed Parker over Ackerson, claiming the incumbent sided with Democrats in key debates. Ackerson led most of the night Tuesday, but final counts showed Parker beating the incumbent by 37 votes.

Parker will face Democrat Teague Ridge in the fall campaign, but the district is heavily Republican, making Parker the early favorite in the general election.

Kentucky elections officials once again expect most voters to ignore Tuesday’s primaries.

Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is predicting turnout between 10 and 12 percent. Low turnout has plagued Kentucky elections for the last few cycles. About a third of voters cast ballots in the 2008 and 2010 primaries.

Grimes says the lack of competitive primaries for President, Congress and the General Assembly will keep most voters at home.