California Democrats Seek Primary System Change

California Democrats Seek Primary System Change California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks advocated in Anaheim last year for a revision or repeal of the state's top-two open primary system, citing concerns that it could lead to Republicans winning statewide offices. Hicks's proposal, made ahead of the June 2 primary, aims to prevent a crowded field of Democratic candidates from dividing the vote, potentially allowing two Republican candidates to advance to the general election.

The current system, implemented in 2010, allows voters to choose any candidate, with the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, advancing to the general election. Hicks argued this system is prone to "quirky outcomes and gamesmanship," which could jeopardize Democratic control in a state with a significant Democratic registration advantage. He suggested a new structure be presented to voters as early as November.

This concern stems from scenarios where multiple candidates from one party split the vote, enabling two candidates from the opposing party to secure the top two spots. Such outcomes have occurred previously, including in 2012 and 2014, where two candidates from the same party advanced to the general election in districts with diverse political leanings. Hicks did not propose a specific alternative but emphasized the need for a comprehensive review of the existing primary structure.