California is one of three states, along with Washington and Alaska, with a nonpartisan primary system, also known as a “jungle primary.” The way it works in California is that all candidates for state and federal offices (except president) run on the same primary ballot, and voters pick their favorite. The two candidates who receive the most votes advance to a runoff election regardless of party registration.
Proponents of the system say it produces more ideologically moderate candidates. Opponents disagree and say top-two is a failed experiment that should be repealed.
The detractors point to California’s recent gubernatorial primary as proof. There were so many high-profile Democratic candidates on the June 2 ballot that some worried they would split the vote and advance the two high-profile Republican candidates to the runoff. It didn’t happen, and although ballots are still being counted, we are most likely going to have a Democrat and a Republican competing for governor in November.
The top-two system was passed by voters in 2010, which means only voters can undo it. Last month Steven Maviglio, a Democratic strategist, submitted a ballot proposal to do just that. Mariel Garza spoke with him about why he thinks top-two should go.
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