There are two California legislative races in which only two candidates filed for the March 3, 2020 primary, and one of them is a minor party member. Therefore, it is virtually certain that those two races in November will list a minor party member, under the top-two system.

In the State Senate, 35th district, the only two candidates are an American Independent Party member, Anthony Perry, and a Democrat.

In the Assembly, 58th district, the only two candidates are a Green, Margaret Villa, and a Democrat.

There are fifteen legislative races in which only one person filed to be on the ballot. Therefore, anyone who files as a write-in in the primary for one of those seats has a chance to qualify for the general election ballot; all that is necessary is for that candidate to outpoll all other write-in candidates in that same primary. Minor parties thus have a chance in those races, although it is normal for a member of the major party that has no one listed on the ballot to capture the 2nd “write-in” spot, instead of a minor party member.

The State Senate races with only one candidate on the primary ballot are these districts: 3,9,25,31,33,39 (six districts). The Assembly districts are: 5,7,11,17,21,23,45,48,51 (nine districts). To be a write-in candidate in a partisan primary, the candidate needs a petition signed by 40 registered voters, due in mid-February 2020. No filing fee is needed.