The truth of the non-partisan primary is that the consequences are on the one hand uncertain in terms of who is elected, but on the other, more certain in terms of who these new crop of representatives represent.
Yesterday, the California State Senate unanimously concurred in minor Assembly Amendments to SB 140 by Senator Mark Leno, thus sending the bill to Governor Brown for his expected signature. The bi-partisan votes on SB 140 is the first but not the last beneficial effect of the Open Primary and Competitive redistricting.
Many people hear the phrase ‘open primary’ and assume that this is the most transparent and fair type of primary system. But, “open” primaries are still partisan elections in which nominees from each party are selected.
Last year’s partisan primaries cost taxpayers around $400 million, public money went directly to private organizations to conduct these elections.
California State Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and Assemblyman Jeff Gorell (R-Ventura County) have introduced identical proposed state constitutional amendments…
Charles Munger, often associated with Republican causes, is defending California’s non-partisan open primary against political party interests.
The latest information on the effects Top-Two Open Primary had on the 2012 state and federal elections in California reveals that the new system does, in fact, result in more competition, increased cross-over voting, and leads to more moderates being elected to the State Legislature.
