We have 103,541 registered voters in Porter County and only 15,887 decided to take the time to vote yesterday (15.34%) ... dual problems there in my estimation, lots of people with issues and complaints who aren't even registered and then making it worse don't show up to help choose the candidates for November. I hear often "the same old people run every time" and yet the truth is that only 8-9% of the voting age population cares to help choose the candidates.
Democrat Tickets - 7,730
Republican Tickets - 8,035
I'd love to say this is because Republicans are more energized, but frankly with the relatively small number of Democrat contested races this number should have been much more lop-sided to Republican turnout.
On the surface it's hard to draw anymore specific conclusions due to the fact that many of the races were uncontested. Looks like Recorder race is swinging GOP, the Auditor race will be a tight one as will Assessor, have to say right now Clerk looks likely to stay Dem. Some questions though now for November?
- Will GOP put up a candidate against Jeremy Rivas for Council?
- Will Dems put up candidates against Karen Conover for Council or Brian Gensel for Prosecutor?
- What is the mood in south county for the Polarek v Johns district?
- Is the RDA even an issue anymore, with pro-RDa and anti-RDA candidates both winning in primaries?
- Is Poporad vulnerable for council with RDA vote, or did Biggs end up agreeing with him that we should stay in?
- At the state house level the Webber v Soliday battle will be a great one to watch, with control of the House on the line going into redistricting year. Can't remember anyone supporting Speaker Bauer in Porter County when he tried to scuttle tax caps this year, will Judge Webber renounce Speaker Bauer and support someone else to get some space?
