On February 16, it was revealed that California Congressmember Barbara Lee has filed with the Federal Election Commission to run for U.S. Senate from California in 2024. Already two other California Democrats had declared for that seat, Adam Schiff and Katie Porter. A possible fourth Democratic contender is Congressmember Ro Khanna.

If four Democratic congressmembers run in the California top-two primary, that opens the possibility that none of the Democrats would place first or second, if there are two Republicans who run and who both have substantial support. In 2012, in the 31st U.S. House district, a district which was predominently Democratic, two Republicans and four Democrats ran, and the two Republicans placed first and second because the four Democrats split up the Democratic vote.

If two Republicans ended up on the November 2024 California ballot for U.S. Senate, and with no write-in space on that ballot, disenfranchsing Democrats, that would be the end of the top-two system in California. Democrats would go all-out to repeal it.

Missouri State Senator Sandy Crawford (R-Buffalo) has introduced SB 102. It would require initiative circulators to be registered voters in Missouri. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1999 in Buckley v American Constitutional Law Foundation that states cannot require circulators to be registered voters. Thanks to Ken Bush for the news about SB 102.

Ohio State Senator William DeMora (D-Franklin) has introduced SB 55. It would move the primary for all office (in presidential years) from March to May. Existing law puts the primary for all office in March in presidential years, but in May in non-presidential years. An identical bill in the House, HB 21, is introduced by Representative Daniel Troy (D-Willowick).

If either bill passed, it would improve the filing deadline for non-presidential independent candidates, which is the day before the primary. The deadline in presidential years would move from March to May.