Here’s what to know about California’s primary system.
What is a top-two primary?
In a top-two primary system, whichever two candidates receive the most votes advance to the general election—regardless of their party affiliation. That means that, hypothetically, California voters could only see two Democratic candidates on the November ballot—or only two Republican candidates, though the latter is less likely in the historically blue state.
Which races does the system apply to?
The system applies to California’s state constitutional offices, state legislative offices, and U.S. congressional offices—known as “voter-nominated offices.” But the top-two primary system doesn’t apply in the state for candidates who are launching bids for President, county central committees, or local offices.
How long has California used the top-two primary system?
The Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act, which established the so-called “jungle primary” system, went into effect in 2011, after voters passed Proposition 14 in 2010 approving the change. Supporters of the change said that top-two primaries would encourage people running for office to reach voters across the political aisle, thereby narrowing the partisan divide in the state. But others argued that it would restrict the options available to voters in a general election, should only candidates from the same party make it on the November ballot.
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