Why register as a Republican or Democrat under the “top two” process—where the top two candidates get to move on to the November run-offs. Why bother registering as a Third Party—unless they are the only candidate on the June ballot against a “major” Party candidate, they will not be on the November ballot. Oh, why vote—in 2012, under this process 28 legislative seat had members of the SAME political Party running against each other. We will see more of that this year.
Under this system political Parties are no longer needed. Note that large amount of Independent Expenditures, rich people and unions trying to buy races. In Assembly District 16 the Democrats have Democrat crony capitalists trying to win the seat vs. Democrat unions, owners of the Party. In the end the people lose under this system.
“Partisans publicly express “shock” over the temerity of a Democrat presuming to seek votes from Republicans in a primary as though it were tantamount to seeking Vladimir Putin’s endorsement.
But, (CRP Chair) Brulte’s private concern reflects a more sophisticated view of the campaign. As the chairman of a rapidly shrinking political party in California, the former Senate minority leader knows that it is possible that this district could produce two Democrats in the runoff if enough Republican voters bolted to Glazer in the primary.”
Voters Winning in California Assembly District 16
By Shawn M. Griffiths, Independent Voters Network, 5/29/14
The California 16th Assembly District race took an interesting turn last week when Democratic candidate Steve Glazer reached out to Republican voters and drew an attack from the Republican Party boss for doing so.
This is a district that Democrats would expect to win in November. The primary race is very close and the prevailing wisdom is that the Republican candidate, Catherine Baker, will make it through to the general election. If correct, that leaves a fight between Democrats Tim Sbranti and Steve Glazer for the second spot.
But, the open primary means that the two candidates can also reach out to independent voters and to Republicans.
In fact, Steve Glazer’s efforts to communicate with Republican voters has made Republican Party leader Jim Brulte so nervous that he criticized the effort.
Partisans publicly express “shock” over the temerity of a Democrat presuming to seek votes from Republicans in a primary as though it were tantamount to seeking Vladimir Putin’s endorsement.
But, Brulte’s private concern reflects a more sophisticated view of the campaign. As the chairman of a rapidly shrinking political party in California, the former Senate minority leader knows that it is possible that this district could produce two Democrats in the runoff if enough Republican voters bolted to Glazer in the primary.
About 28.6 percent of the state’s voters are registered Republicans, down from 35.7 percent a decade ago, according to the latest figures from the California secretary of state. If the trends of the next decade mirror the last, “No Party Preference” voters will outnumber Republicans in California by 2024.
When you are trying to rebuild a political party that some argue could be on the brink of extinction, the last thing you need is for voters to peer past the partisan barriers to produce a more competitive November election in a district likely destined to elect a Democrat under any circumstances.
It is precisely this brand of competition that the authors of the nonpartisan, open primary had in mind. Candidates are forced from the beginning of their campaigns to consider the views of independents and minority party members if they expect to be successful in November.
The new reality is reflected in the fact that BOTH Democrats publicly support the open primary.
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