California voters choose to get rid of party primaries with passage of Prop 14

Washignton Post ^ | June 10, 2010 | Aaron Blake

[SmartInsight]

Proposition 14, modeled on a similar law in Washington state, was approved by 8 percentage points. The measure will create a single, open primary in which the top two finishers, regardless of party, advance to the general election runoff, paving the way for Republican - vs. -Democrat, Democrat - vs. - Democrat or Republican -vs -Republican contests.

The campaign was spearheaded by Schwarzenegger and his moderate new lieutenant governor, Abel Maldonado. Maldonado, a former state senator, secured the ballot measure as part of an agreement to vote for the stalemated Democratic budget last year.

[SmartInsight]

I don't know why people keep referring to this as an "open primary". Open primary is when you can have voters not affiliated with the party, vote in the primary of the party of their choice, but in an open primary you still end up with one R and on D candidate.

This proposition allowing the "top two" candidates to advance to the Nov election, virtually guarantees in a state like CA, with overwhelming Dem majority, a single party, Dem party system.

Note that the Dems pushed this, as price to agree on the budget.

Schwarzenegger and Maldonado sold out the future of Republicans in CA forever.

Can't believe that the Republicans didn't fight this at all. basically giving up on CA.

[GeronL]

The RINO’s who run the CA party loved it.

The conservatives will have zero impact now.

Even if they try to go third party.... nope, only 2 will go to November.

suckers have been had. idiots. morons.

California is unsalvageable. even the pretense and veneer of democracy is over. Its a banana republic without bananas. Just fruits and nuts.

[pissant]

Yep. Then again, they weren’t doing so hot the traditional way for the past 30 years either.

[GeronL]

fruits and nuts are the majority now.

[Chet 99]

The Democrats in California do not have an “overwhelming majority” in California. Maybe a 10% registration edge. That’s not nearly enough to get two Democrats into a runoff.

[screaminsunshine]

Advancing the communist adgenda.

[Aria]

How ironic that Reagan came from California.

So now as a price to try to save CA, the rats have demanded what amounts to absolute power. Well, when CA goes under everyone will know whose fault it is.

[Windflier]

Well, when CA goes under everyone will know whose fault it is.

George Bush, right?

[SmartInsight]

“they weren’t doing so hot the traditional way for the past 30 years either.”

They elected Reagan for governor, Reagan carried the state when he ran for president — used to be the “Golden State”, before becoming a state of “Fool’s Gold”.

[Tzimisce]

The new choice in California will be liberal and liberaler.

[SmartInsight]

“The districts most affected by Proposition 14 would be those that have the most lopsided registration margins, those with 25 percent or greater for either party. About a third of California’s legislative districts are these “supermajority districts,” and the number is increasing, according to the study.”

http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=ywjlxjfwtd9cbj&xid=ywj1bt5etdtqfb&done=.ywjlxjfwtdycbj

[dalereed]

The Republicans can go to a caucus system and avoid the primary and still have a candidate for every office on the General Election ballot.

[dalereed]

How and why did “(in)” appear behind my name?

[pissant]

It will take a Reaganite to restore her too.

[Chet 99]

Those lopsided districts apply to both parties — it is gerrymandering.

[calcowgirl]

“in” must have ended up as your “Tagline”
(just below the “Reply” box, but above Spell/Preview/Post)

[Revolting cat!]

Say, why do the taxpayers have to pay for or have any interest in internal elections of some political parties, huh?

[SmartInsight]

“The Republicans can go to a caucus system and avoid the primary and still have a candidate for every office on the General Election ballot.”

Can they do that? I am not familiar how Prop 14 is written, but from the sound of it, nominees have to participate and be on the primary ballot and the top two candidate advance to the November elections.

If Republicans don’t participate, then, for sure, two Dems would be on the November ballot, how would the Republicans get on it?

[SmartInsight]

“Say, why do the taxpayers have to pay for or have any interest in internal elections of some political parties, huh?”

Who said anything about taxpayers — wasn’t that Prop 15 that got defeated?

[calcowgirl]

It wasn’t Dems alone that got this passed. SEIU and CSEA actually opposed it.
It’s the mushy middle folks feed at the trough and want to raise taxes for their own benefit. Rid Sacramento of those pesky conservatives and it will be like a new Southern Pacific running the state

---

http://www.yeson14openprimary.com/who-supports-prop-14.php

Who supports Prop 14:

California Leaders

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Senator Abel Maldonado
Steve Westly, Former State Controller
Bruce McPherson, Former California Secretary of State
Jeannine English, California State President, AARP
Carl Guardino, President & CEO, Silicon Valley Leadership Group
Bill Hauck, President, California Business Roundtable
Allan Zaremberg, President/CEO, California Chamber of Commerce Steering Committee/Supporters
AARP
DeDe Alpert, Former California State Senator
American Council of Engineering Companies of California
Asian Business Association
Asian Americans in Commercial Real Estate
Association for LA Deputy Sheriffs
Lee Baca, Los Angeles County Sheriff
Bay Area Council
Beaumont Chamber of Commerce
Bill Bogaard, Mayor of Pasadena
California Association of Health Underwriters
California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce
California Asian Peace Officers PAC
California Business Roundtable
California Chamber of Commerce
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Forward
California Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations (CCLEA)
California Manufacturers & Technology Association
California Metals Coalition
California Peace Officers’ Association
California Police Chiefs Association
California School Administrators
California Senior Advocates League
California Retailers Association
Camarillo Chamber of Commerce
Tom Campbell, Benicia City Council Member
Carpinteria Valley Chamber of Commerce
Richard Casuga, Board Member, Coalition 5000 Democratic Alliance**
Evelyn Centeno, Board Member, California Democratic Party Filipino Caucus**
Alex Cham, Board Member, Korean American Democratic Organization, Los Angeles**
Chambers of Commerce Alliance, Ventura/Santa Barbara Counties
Jay Chen, Vice President, Board of Education, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District
Darlene Chiu, San Francisco Small Business Commissioner**
Kansen Chu, San Jose Councilmember
Citizens For California Reform
Civil Justice Association of California
Contra Costa Council
Ryan Coonerty, Vice Mayor, Santa Cruz
Corona Chamber of Commerce
Lynn Daucher, former CA Assembly Member
Kathleen DeRosa, Mayor, Cathedral City
Michael DiVirgilio, Mayor, Hermosa Beach
Bonnie Dumanis, San Diego County District Attorney
Delaine Eastin, former CA State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Bud England, Mayor Pro Tem, Cathedral City
David W Fleming, Founding Chair, BizFed
Jim Hartman, Former Alameda County Republican Party Chairman
Fred Keeley, Former Speaker pro Tempore, CA State Assembly; Treasurer, Santa Cruz County
Fremont Chamber of Commerce
Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce
Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce
Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce
Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce
Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce
Hispanic 100
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
Inland Empire Asian Business Association
Jeffrey Moyer, Mayor, City of Red Bluff
Michael Kasperzak, Council Member and Former Mayor, Mountain View
John Kinoshita, Former Vice President, Asian Pacific American Islander Democratic Club of South Bay**
Korean American Coalition
Korean American Federation of Los Angeles
Latin Business Association
Brad Lee, Co-President, Korean American Democratic National Organization**
Ott Lee, Sunnyvale Council Member
Sam Liccardo, San Jose City Councilmember
Ted Lieu, California State Assemblyman, 53rd AD
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Los Angeles County Business Federation, BizFed
LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce
Henry Lo, Garvey School District Board Member**
Ronald Loveridge, Mayor of Riverside
Jack Matthew, San Mateo City Council Member
Owen Newcomer, Whittier Council Member
Michael OMeara, Plymouth Council Member
Orange Chamber of Commerce
Orange County Black Chamber
Orange County Presidents Council (OCPC)
Orange County Professional Firefighters Association
Oxnard Chamber of Commerce
Debra Peterson, Grover beach City Council Member**
Professional Peace Officers Association, PPOA
Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce
Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
Regional Black Chamber of Commerce SFV
Regional Economic Association Leaders of California (REAL) Coalition
Riverside Sheriffs’ Association
Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
San Gabriel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce
Elito Santarina, Mayor Pro Tem, Carson
Silicon Valley Leadership Group
Shasa Medical Group
South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce
Southern California Alliance of Law Enforcement (SCALE)
Steve Tate, Mayor, Morgan Hill
Zoe Taylor, Former President/CEO, Ventura Chamber of Commerce
Valley Industry & Commerce Association (VICA)
Panney Wei, California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Secretary**
Charlie Woo, Former Board Chair, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce

Businesses and Individual Supporters

(snip)

California Newspapers Agree! Yes on Prop 14!
Bakersfield Californian
California Aggie
Contra Costa Times
Daily Breeze
Desert Sun
Fresno Bee
LA Daily News
Los Angeles Times
IndependentVoice.Org
Marin Independent Journal
Merced Sun Star
Monterey County Hearold
Oakland Tribune
Redding Record Searchlight
Riverside Press Enterprise
Sacramento Bee
San Diego Union Tribune
San Francisco Chronicle
San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Santa Rosa Press-Democrat
Tracy Press
Tri-Valley Herald
Union Democrat

*Partial Listing
(**Title for identification purpose only)

---

Donor Amount
California Dream Team $2,000,000
California Business PAC $720,000
Reed Hastings $257,328
California Association of Hospitals $250,000
Eli Broad $100,000
California Association of Health Underwriters $100,000
Hewlett-Packard $100,000
Brian Harvey $100,000
William Bloomfield $100,000
Herbalife International $100,000
Blue Shield of California $50,000
William Oberndorf $50,000

[chuck_the_tv_out]

I’ve only travelled to California for a short time, but my experience was that fruits & nuts are NOT the majority.

Democrats are kept in power by their pet groups: minorities, homos, (fruits & nuts), criminals, the insane, and the terminally malinformed.

Fruits & nuts are only one small part of that mix.

[dalereed]

i’ve heard that that option has been discussed if 14 passed.

[Lancey Howard]

California, lol.

[calcowgirl]

Simple. They would just annoint a single candidate.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_15186257

Contra Costa Times
06/01/2010 10:45:44 AM PDT

(snip)

While publicly denouncing the open primary initiative on the June 8 ballot as wrongheaded and anti-democratic, the California Republican Party quietly four months ago adopted a contingency plan.

If the measure passes, the GOP will deploy a primary caucus nomination system in which assigned delegates will select the party’s nominees for Congress, statewide offices, the Board of Equalization and the Legislature.

(snip)

If the caucus were in place today, the GOP would have sided with either Meg Whitman or Steve Poizner, and stated its preference in the hotly contested four-way Republican primary race in the 11th Congressional District.

“Did people think parties would fold up their tents and go away?” said California GOP Chairman Ron Nehring. “The central role of political parties is the nomination of candidates, and if the primary no longer serves that purpose, then parties need an alternative method to see which candidates the party backs.”

[Revolting cat!]

Oh, so who’s paying the costs of conducting your favorite party’s primaries?

[cherry]

I was totally upset when this passed in Washington.....people do not even think about what the consequences of their votes are...

[Kickass Conservative]

I believe the only County that voted against this was Orange County, where I live.

I will bet a dollar to a donut that the very few of the people that voted Yes for this had a clue of what it really does.

I think they were mistaken that you could request the opposing Party Ballot if you wanted.

California is doomed once again. Any bit if sunlight has disappeared. The only thing that would give us any hope is getting rid of Boxer and Brown.

This is the end, my only friend, the end....

[Impy]

If the measure passes, the GOP will deploy a primary caucus nomination system in which assigned delegates

They should also blackball any idiot who loses the endorsement and runs in the primary anyway.

I heard only 2 counties voted no. San Fran and Orange. 2 of the most partisan counties.

I barf all over this amendment. Thank you politically ignorant morons. Thanks DIABLO SLUDGE ARNIE AND (UN)ABEL. I hate to hope this but I hope that nut Newsom kicks Abel's teeth in.

[truthguy]

ALL OF THE COMMERCIALS I HEARD ON TV AND RADIO WERE PRO PROP 14, I DIDN'T HEAR A SINGLE ANIT-PROP 14 MESSAGE!

My clue that it was a terrible Proposition was that Schwarzenegger was behind it. I knew then to oppose it. It's a really stupid concept so I'm not surprised it passed. I'll bet 95% of the people voting for it didn't understand what it was all about.

[Impy]

CA voters should enjoy their last chance to vote third party.

[Always Independent]

The Demons fought this also. Along with some of the states most entrenched unions.

[ScoopAmma]

Bingo. Exactly what I explained to my husband.

[Rick_Michael]

What a stupid idea....

[Inkie]

I live in Ca. Heard all the commercials about this new nirvana. Heard zero commercials opposing and knew people would be snowed. GOP was asleep.

[pbmaltzman]

Another result of Prop. 14 is that it will make it even more difficult for third parties to succeed. Not that they were doing so great before this. It will also make it harder for third parties to get on the ballot and stay on the ballot.

[donna]

Somewhere, there is a missing “in”.

[FormerACLUmember]

This is not a “stupid” law.

It was carefully crafted to turn California into a permanent one-party state.

I curse Schwartzenegger.

[NormsRevenge]

less than 25% turn-out yet the claim California Voters choose to get rid of party primaries.

Who needs political parties in California anyway?

The Ca Gop has been non-existent the last few cycles..

[L.A.Justice]

I was really upset that this passed.

I didn’t really care if prop 16 or prop 17 passed...But, this...

I think that people should be able to vote for minor party candidates in the general election...Yes, sometimes that could hurt a GOP candidate...But, so be it...

If I have to chooose between two Dems in the general election, I will simply will skip that vote...