California's nonpartisan Top Two primary brought record Latino turnout in the 2026 governor's race. Now party insiders are pushing to repeal it, which strategist Mike Madrid warns would silence the state's fastest-growing voting bloc.
Mike Madrid sits down with Bobby Pulido—Grammy-winning Tejano music star turned Democratic congressional candidate—to discuss one of the most important political realignments in America.
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.
California’s nonpartisan primary system is built around a simple promise: Every voter gets a say. But, not every voter takes advantage of this. There is a noticeable turnout gap with Latino voters, in particular, who could completely reshape the electoral landscape if they participate.
IVN Editorial Board
Mike Madrid
Shawn Griffiths