Effort seeks to repeal “top two” primary system in California
WELCOME BACK. WITH JUST A FEW WEEKS TO GO UNTIL ELECTION DAY, THERE IS A NEW EFFORT TO REPEAL THE GOLDEN STATE’S OPEN PRIMARY SYSTEM. KCRA 3’S MIKE TESELLE JOINS US FROM THE STATE CAPITOL NOW WITH MORE ON WHAT THIS COULD MEAN FOR YOUR VOTE, AND WHO IS BEHIND THE EFFORT TO REPEAL THE TOP TWO PRIMARY? YEAH, MIKE, IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW BACK IN 2011, THAT’S WHEN VOTERS PUT INTO EFFECT THE OPEN TOP TWO OR JUNGLE PRIMARY, WHICH MEANT THAT DURING THE PRIMARY, AS A VOTER, YOU COULD VOTE FOR IN A STATEWIDE RACE, ANY CANDIDATE OF ANY PARTY, REGARDLESS OF WHAT PARTY YOU WERE REGISTERED WITH. THEN, AFTER THE PRIMARY, THE TOP TWO VOTE GETTERS, REGARDLESS OF PARTY, WOULD GO ON TO FACE EACH OTHER IN THE GENERAL ELECTION. HOW THIS ALL APPLIES TO THIS PRIMARY UPCOMING. WELL, THERE ARE 61 CANDIDATES LISTED IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR, AND SOME POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY IT IS POSSIBLE TWO OF THE CANDIDATES FROM THE SAME PARTY COULD END UP AS THE TOP TWO IN THIS PRIMARY AND FACE EACH OTHER IN THE GENERAL ELECTION. SOME COMPLAIN THIS COULD DISENFRANCHIZE ONE PARTY WITHOUT REPRESENTATION IN THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR GOVERNOR. SO THIS MONTH, A NEW BALLOT INITIATIVE HAS BEEN FILED TO REPEAL THE STATE’S TOP TWO PRIMARY AND RETURN IT TO A PARTY BASED PRIMARY WHERE VOTERS LIKE YOU WOULD ONLY VOTE FOR CANDIDATES IN YOUR OWN REGISTERED PARTY. NOW, WHO IS BEHIND THIS EFFORT? WELL, THE LEADER BEHIND IT AND FILED THIS WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THIS MONTH IS STEVE MAVIGLIO. HE’S THE FORMER COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS AND THE FORMER CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR THEN SACRAMENTO MAYOR KEVIN JOHNSON. HE ARGUES THAT THE CURRENT TOP TWO PRIMARY LEADS TO GREATER POLITICAL POLARIZATION. HOWEVER, IN 2023, A NONPROFIT, UNITE AMERICA INSTITUTE FOUND THAT THE TOP TWO OPEN PRIMARY ACTUALLY LEADS TO LESS POLITICAL POLARIZATION AND INCREASES VOTER PARTICIPATION. LI
Effort seeks to repeal “top two” primary system in California
Updated: 7:26 AM PDT May 11, 2026
A new ballot initiative has been filed to repeal California’s “top two” primary system.Implemented in 2011, the “top two” or “jungle primary” system allows voters to choose any candidate from any party in the primary, regardless of their party registration. The top two vote-getters then advance to the general election, even if they belong to the same party. This year, 61 candidates are listed in the race for governor, and some political analysts say it is possible that two candidates from the same party could end up in the general election. Critics argue this could disenfranchise voters from other parties by leaving them without representation in the governor’s race. Steve Maviglio, the former communications director for Gov. Gray Davis, is leading the effort to repeal the system and return to a party-based primary where voters select candidates only within their own party. He argues the top-two primary has worsened political polarization.However, a 2023 report from the Unite America Institute found that the “top two” system has led to less polarization and higher voter turnout.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
A new ballot initiative has been filed to repeal California’s “top two” primary system.
Implemented in 2011, the “top two” or “jungle primary” system allows voters to choose any candidate from any party in the primary, regardless of their party registration.
The top two vote-getters then advance to the general election, even if they belong to the same party.
This year, 61 candidates are listed in the race for governor, and some political analysts say it is possible that two candidates from the same party could end up in the general election.
Critics argue this could disenfranchise voters from other parties by leaving them without representation in the governor’s race.
Steve Maviglio, the former communications director for Gov. Gray Davis, is leading the effort to repeal the system and return to a party-based primary where voters select candidates only within their own party.
He argues the top-two primary has worsened political polarization.
However, a 2023 report from the Unite America Institute found that the “top two” system has led to less polarization and higher voter turnout.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel