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California is worse than an open primary; it's a "top two" primary. Two Democrats will always advance to the general election.

I forgot about that.
I remember in the last election I actually voted for someone I never dreamed I'd cast a vote for - Solid Commie Mike Honda. The deal was that his opponent's commercials (also, as you pointed out, a Democrat) convinced me that Mike Honda was an incompetent boob who had done virtually nothing in his tenure in office ... Hmmm, vote for a competent leftist, or vote for an incompetent leftist who does nothing (other than occasionally agitate me with his smug pronouncements)? Easy call...
But you are correct, voting in California (particularly in the Northern California Bay Area) is thin gruel for finding palatable candidates.