Former California Republican State Chair Says “Of Course” the Party Must Winnow the Field for U.S. Senate Before the Primary

Duf Sundheim, a former California Republican state chair, and a supporter of California’s top-two system, is quoted here as saying that “of course” the Republican Party will need to persuade some of the Republican candidates for U.S. Senate not to file for the June 2016 primary. Scroll down to “Border to border” to see that news.

Three Republicans have announced for U.S. Senate this year. They are Sundheim himself, who lives in Santa Clara County; Tom Del Beccaro, another former state chair of the party who lives in Contra Costa County; and Assemblymember Rocky Chavez of San Diego County.

Recent polls have shown that two Democrats, Attorney General Kamala Harris and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, will place first and second in the June 7 top-two primary, leaving the Republicans with no candidate in the general election campaign. But if only one Republican runs, potentially that one Republican might place in one of the top two spots. This race shows how the top-two system actually reduces voter choice even in the primary election, because without the top-two system in place, all three prominent Republicans could run without fear of injuring their own party.


Comments

Former California Republican State Chair Says “Of Course” the Party Must Winnow the Field for U.S. Senate Before the Primary — 4 Comments

  1. Abolish the minority rule Senate (due to the many below average small States) or use P.R.

    CA at the moment is THE State that is MOST unrepresented in the Senate.

    I.E. CA / WY = about 53 to 1.

  2. Demo Rep, that’s because the Senate is supposed to represent each state equally, not proportionally or by populace. It gives each state government equal say.

  3. If you want a proportional senate why not just abolish it, have a unicameral body, and move all the Senate seats to the house for one body of 535.

  4. The only reason for having 2 houses is to reduce the arrogant / emotional powermad stuff in alleged crisis situations.

    NE survives with a ONE house State legislature (since about 1936).

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