California ’s “Top Two” System Misfires, Again

Andy CraigCalifornia's 4th state senate district, redrawn after the 2020 census, includes parts of the Central Valley and a large swath of the sparsely populated areas along the state's border with Nevada. Last week, as they did statewide, voters in Senate District 4 went to the polls for California's primary elections.Votes are still being counted (California is one of the slowest-counting states), but with 93% reporting as of this writing, the apparent outcome is unlikely to change. Underthe current results, 60 percent of those who cast a ballot voted for Republican candidates and 40 percent voted for Democratic candidates. That breakdown resembles the new district's voting patterns over recent presidential and statewide elections. Such a margin, with voters clearly favoring one party over the other, would usually make this a relatively safe Republican district.But in November, the Republican-leaning voters of Senate District 4 will only have a choice between two Democrats, thanks to California's misguided Top Two elections system.In most states, the top Democratic candidate and the top Republican candidate would face off in the general election in November, each as the nominees of their respective parties, together with any third-party or independent candidates. But in 2010, California adopted the Top Two system. Under Top Two, all candidates regardless of party affiliation run in the same primary. The first and second place finishers then advance to the general election, ...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs