Former Governor Jesse Ventura (who was elected in 1998 in Minnesota on the Reform Party ticket) has just issued this statement:

“Dear California Voters, I hope California voters defeat Prop. 62 on November 2. This proposition would mandate that all candidates including independents and third party candidates run on the same primary ballot in June with Republicans and Democrats and then only the top two vote-getters would appear on the November ballot.

“In Minnesota, September 1998, I only received 3% of the open primary vote in the race for Governor. Despite these numbers I went on to win the general election in November. Under Prop. 62…I would have been excluded from the general election in November and never would have been able to serve as Governor of Minnesota.

“It is no surprise to me that big money is behind Prop. 62, and its efforts eliminate real choice for the voters in upcoming California elections. I strongly urge California voters to defeat Prop. 62.”