On May 23, SurveyUSA released a new poll for the California U.S. Senate race. Only five of the 34 candidates were listed: Kamala Harris 31%, Loretta Sanchez 22%, Duf Sundheim 9%, Tom Del Beccaro 9%, Ron Unz 7%, other or undecided 22%.
These results, very similar to poll results in April, suggest that the November 8 ballot will list only two Democrats, with no write-in space. This article in the Washington Times suggests that such an outcome will be bad for both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. Especially significant are the quotes from Dan Schnur, a well-known Californian who has been active at high levels in state government. He has previously been a supporter of the top-two system, but now seems not to be.
It does look likely that California voters in November will have a choice of two Democrats in the Senate race. This situation might create the outrage needed to end the top-two open primary system, and get public support for a return to partisan primaries.
The result of the top two primary system so far has been that no alternative party candidates make it to the November ballot in the state-wide races, and few alternative party candidates have qualified in local elections. But since people saw their statewide choices in each case included a Democrat and a Republican, the true cost of top two has not hit home. That could change with this year’s election for U.S. Senate.
What do CA voters have to say about the nonstop minority rule math in the USA gerrymander Senate ???
i.e. CA has been the chief victim for about 50 years.
Why top 2? Why not Top 5? Require run off if no one gets 40% in general elections.
Why not Top One? It makes things much easier. It worked really well in Soviet Russia before the worker’s paradise was felled by external capitalist forces. 🙁