One Voter Project

Q: When was the last time a write-in candidate won a partisan political office? A: The last write-in candidate to win election was Ron Packard running for Congress in 1982. Write-ins have only been elected six times in the last century.

Q: Who was the last Assembly Speaker to later be elected to the State Senate? A: Before Bob Hertzberg (serving since 2014), it was Frank F. Merriam (Speaker in 1923-1926), who was elected to the State Senate in 1928 and went on to be Governor in 1934.

Q: Who was the last person to serve as Assembly Speaker and Senate President pro Tem? A: James T. Farley served as Speaker in 1856 and Pro Tem in 1871-1874. Only one other person, Ransom Burnell, has ever held both titles.