If she advances past the Top Two primary, it would be more than a local upset. It would be evidence that something structural has shifted in American politics. It’ll also say something important about California’s nonpartisan primary system.
A majority of California Latino voters say they want to keep the nonpartisan Top Two primary or modify it to advance more than two candidates to the general election. They don't want the state to go back to closed primaries.
With ballots already in voters’ hands, the June 2 primary is testing whether California’s independent-minded electorate understands how much power it has.
Independent and Latino voters can decide the June 2 primary. Most won't show up. A statewide nonpartisan campaign is racing to change that before ballots are due.
We combed the internet to present, in one place, each California Gubernatorial candidate’s “best case,” absent all the attacks and without any editorial comment from us.
When Independent Voter posted a series of videos about primary turnout on its Facebook page, the comments revealed a startling reality: Many voters think California’s semi-closed presidential primary rules apply to the 2026 midterm elections.
The state’s nonpartisan Top-Two primary was never designed to produce a Democrat vs. Republican Race or to prevent two Democrats or two Republicans from being in the final contest.
Democrats, Republicans and Greens for Constitutional Office publicly defend the right of every voter to participate. The Democratic secretary of state is on the record saying she would prefer a return to closed partisan primaries. Most statewide candidates won’t say where they stand.
Matt Shinners
Michael Feinstein
IVN Editorial Board
Shawn Griffiths
Cara Brown McCormick
Independent Voter Project
Steve Peace
