Question

Write an essay describing California's unique primary system. In your essay, make sure to discuss how the system works, the reasons why California reformed its primary system in 2010, and the possible drawbacks associated with the system.

• Your essay must be informed by the following two articles, which are available from the course homepage:
  • "Here's How California’s 'Jungle Primary' System Works" (The New York Times)
  • "Making Sense of California's Top-Two Primary System" (KQED News)

• Response length requirement: 350 words or more

Answer 1

California’s much discussed top-two primary election is happening today, and it could lay the groundwork for Democrats to take back the U.S. House. Or not.

The way it works is pretty simple: Instead of separate party primaries, all the candidates are on one ballot, and the top two vote getters advance to the November general election, no matter their party affiliation. That means two candidates from the same party can — and sometimes do — end up as the only candidates in the general election.

Don’t call it a jungle primary — that’s in Louisiana. And when the two finalists in each race advance to November’s general election, don’t call it a runoff: No one can win outright Tuesday, even if they get more than 50% of the vote.

Despite its apparent simplicity, the system injects a lot of uncertainty into races. It also prompts parties to do seemingly wacky things, such as fund attack ads against weaker challengers in hopes of consolidating votes for the opposing party’s front-runner while discouraging opposition turnout overall.

California’s primary system could thwart Democrats and Republicans alike on June 5, shutting either party out of key races in the fall. Under the state’s top-two primary, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes advance to the general election in November, regardless of party. Democrats fear that the high numbers of hopefuls on the primary ballot could split the vote and leave the party without candidates in high-stakes congressional races in November. Meanwhile, Republicans are worried they could be left off the ballot in the governor’s race and other statewide contests in November, giving their voters less of an incentive to turn out to vote for GOP House candidates.