Calling them moderate is incorrect, they could be called that only in comparison. Rather they are liberal socialists and the worse ones are virulent, insane communists who actively HATE their own country (other than those that view Mexico as their country).
It is true we used to lose a lot of GOP votes to he liartarians and the AIP as well. Though some AIP votes may have gone to morons attracted to the word “independent” not realizing they were voting for a paleo-conservative party. Tom McClintock may have cost victory in races for Controller or whatever he ran for by third parties. But overrall I’d have to check and see if the rats lost more votes or if we did.
But the Greens are growing aren’t they? They could indeed be a big prob for democrats in the future if the regular system was restored.
“Moderate” probably does them more credit, but I stand by the view that Dianne Feinstein and Jerry Brown are closer to your average Republican in the Legislature than either is to Tom Ammiano or Barbara Lee.
The third parties in California undoubtedly benefited Republicans in close races. The Green and Peace & Freedom vote breaks 80% D, 20% not vote, 0% Republican when their lines are missing. Unlike in most places, where the Libertarian vote probably breaks very pro-Republican, in California it breaks more like 40% R (anti-tax), 40% D (pro-marijuana), 20% not vote ... the American Independent Party vote breaks 50%/50% because those are people who have no idea what the AIP is (was?).
It’s basically a trade: give up that small advantage, reduce the ability to nominate and elect fire-breathers in the small and shrinking number of remaining heavily-Republican districts, in exchange for significantly greater ability to keep radical leftists out of office in the large and growing number of heavily Democratic districts, and quite possibly statewide as well.
I think at the end of the day you like that trade if you have an economic or personal interest in California, you dislike it if you are mainly concerned with how many Tea Party Caucus members that California can send to the House of Representatives.
In McClintock’s three statewide losses to a Democrat that got below 50% (1994 Controller, 2002 Controller and 2006 Lt. Gov.), the Democrat winner would have gotten over 50% if he got the Peace and Freedom Party or the Green Party vote.