Frequently Asked Questions
What are your positions? Where is your party platform?
We and other Californians feel that our politics are broken, and until that is fixed, nothing will truly change. That’s why our platform is centered around governance reform, more than any single, hot button issue. We need to first fix our system, with:
Campaign finance reform — to equalize access to the political arena and allow everyday Californians to run for office
Voting reform — so that we can be free to vote for candidates we actually like
Legislative reform — to make our laws transparent and hold our lawmakers accountable
Learn more about our platform here!
Will you be running candidates in 2024?
Our first priority is to obtain 73,000+ members in order to become a Qualified Party. Once that is accomplished the Common Sense Party will seek to identify candidates for school boards, city councils, and county supervisors state legislative races and congress.
Now and in the future we may also support “Common Sense” Democrats, Republicans, or independents who demonstrate a willingness to be independent-minded on critical issues and who support our values of transparency, civility, and beneficial long-term public policy. The Common Sense Party will look to support candidates from any and every background and party affiliation who support initiatives and policies that minimize political partisanship in favor of beneficial long-term decision making.
Are you aiming at the national level as well?
The Common Sense Party is uniquely focused on the state of California.
Does registering with the Common Sense Party limit who I can vote for?
Your party preference makes NO difference on who you can vote for in any local, state, or congressional race in California. California has an open primary by law.
Only in the presidential primary are you limited to voting in your registered party. To vote for a specific presidential primary candidate you can easily change your registration online just prior to the primary, or even change your registration in-person on election day, and then change back to Common Sense afterwards. There is no limit to the number of times you may change your party in California.
Don't third parties take strength away from the established party to which they are closest ideologically? Why won't you do the same?
It is not possible to be a spoiler in California due to California’s Open, non-partisan primary and top 2 finals election system. Open primaries allow any voter from any party to vote for any candidate from any party, or for any independent.
The top 2 vote-getters proceed to the final ballot in November. There is no role for a spoiler, 3rd-party candidate who does not finish in the top 2 of the primary election, because only two names are on the final election ballot.
If a Common Sense Party supported candidate advances to the November ballot in California, they will face one opponent. In this scenario, the Common Sense Party supported candidate can have an advantage because they draw from supporters of either Democratic or Republican candidates who did not make it to the finals. Presumably, the Common Sense Party endorsement will be meaningful for the approximately 30% of the electorate (using statewide numbers) who are registered as “No Party Preference” or with other third parties. We also expect to draw voters registered as Democrats or Republicans who do not support the increasingly extreme polarization we see these days.
How can I volunteer?
Our primary objective is registering 73,000+ voters to formally select the Common Sense Party. This qualifies us with all the rights and responsibilities of a political party in California.
We need volunteers for the following roles:
Virtual Canvassers
Fundraising
Contact Building
Event Organizer
Social Media Ambassador
Outreach / Recruitment
Canvassing / Event Tabling
Speaker
Writer
How do YOU want to volunteer? If you believe in our mission, then your voice, your artistry, your passion, your intelligence, and your story should be a part of the new Common Sense Party.
How are you different from the Democratic and Republican Parties?
Both established parties have ossified. Each insists on a rigid adherence to a set of views, when most Californians value independence of thought. Regrettably, with only two competitors on the field, one party’s gain is the other's loss. This zero-sum game is a major factor in the rise of partisanship and gridlock. The Common Sense Party embraces the competition of ideas and encourages different perspectives in the pursuit of more effective governance.
How are you different from the Libertarian or Green Parties?
There are four “minor” political parties qualified in California (Green Party, Libertarian Party, Peace & Freedom Party and American Independent Party). Traditionally, these parties have focused on a very limited set of issues and have sometimes been extreme in their positions. Rather than focusing on single-issues demanding rigid ideological agreement, the Common Sense Party seeks to include a variety of perspectives and ideologies by developing policy positions rooted in practicality and collaboration, data-based decision making, impact on future generations, civility, and Common Sense.
Who is funding you? Who is behind this effort?
Costs for the Common Sense Party are funded by the Independent Alliance for California (IAC). The IAC is a 527 organization that was formed by former United States Congressman Tom Campbell and the other Common Sense Party co-founders. The IAC has raised approximately $1.4 million from two types of donors: (1) About 50 people who have donated $1,000 or more. These larger donors are mostly folks who have supported Tom during his various political campaigns and they got the ball rolling on this movement. (2) There are about 600 individuals who have donated smaller amounts through our website. This type of small donation is critical because it provides a robust funding base that enables us to budget for our voter registration efforts over the long-haul.
If you would like to make a one time, or recurring donation using your credit card, click here.
If you would like to make a donation via check or wire transfer to the Common Sense Party (via the IAC), please:
Send checks payable to:
“Independent Alliance for California” FEIN: 82-4751327
c/o The Sutton Law Firm
150 Post Street, Suite 405
San Francisco, CA 94108
415-732-7700
The Sutton Law Firm manages our accounts and makes all necessary reports and disclosures through the Fair Political Practices Commission. The identities of investors and amounts donated to the IAC are reportable and fully disclosed according to all normal processes and rules of the FPPC.
Once we are officially recognized, the Common Sense Party will establish its own operating accounts and will solicit and accept contributions from those who are legally able to give to a political party. Any contributions will be thoroughly reported and transparent.
What will you do if you don't get enough California voters to re-register?
We’ll keep working at it. State law allows us to inform the Secretary of State's office that we intend to qualify for a future election cycle. In so doing all those voters who have registered their preference for Common Sense Party will retain that registration until the party achieves 73,000 members and is certified.