HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

California Created Single-Party General Elections And Now They're More Competitive Than Ever.

Views:1042
@ReasonVids

"Those old elections, where you had a Republican who's always going to win because a Republican district versus a sacrificial lamb Democrat, you might feel a little better for five seconds as you check the box for 'sacrificial lamb Democrat. But you didn't really have any power," says Jason Olson, director of IndependentVoice.org and co-author of the a new study on California's "Top Two" primary system.

California's Top Two primary system went into effect in 2012 after voters passed a ballot initiative approving the changes to the state's primary system. Now, primaries are "open," meaning that anyone can vote for any candidate regardless of party affiliation, and the top two vote-getters compete in the general election. As a result, California voters have often found themselves facing a choice between two Democrats or two Republicans in the general election.

Olson argues that this outcome has actually forced more competitiveness into the system, as candidates now must work harder to appeal to voters outside their core constituency in the general election. His study found that in terms of both margin of victory and incumbency turnover, California went from one of the least competitive to one of the most since the enactment of Top Two.

Olson talked with Reason TV's Zach Weissmueller about the pros and cons of Top Two, its potential effects on third-party voters, independents and libertarians, and gave examples of how the system has shaken up otherwise predictable races across California.

Approximately 10 minutes. Shot by Paul Detrick. Produced by Zach Weissmueller.

Visit http://reason.com/reasontv for downloadable versions, and subscribe to Reason TV's YouTube channel for daily content like this.

primary election
,
general election
,
nonpartisan blanket primary
,
single-party state (form of government)
,
election (quotation subject)
,
third party politics
,
libertarian party
,
green party
,
reform party of the united states of america (political party)
    Thumbnail for The Alternative Medicine Racket: How the Feds Fund Quacks14:45
    The Alternative Medicine Racket: How the Feds Fund Quacks
    ReasonVids
    956 views
    Thumbnail for Stossel: Leaving the Left5:05
    Stossel: Leaving the Left
    ReasonVids
    996 views
    Thumbnail for The Case For Back-Room Deals, Party Hacks & Unlimited Money in Politics17:54
    The Case For Back-Room Deals, Party Hacks & Unlimited Money in Politics
    ReasonVids
    1045 views
    Thumbnail for The Case Against College Entitlements with Rep. Paul Ryan and Author Charles Murray4:26
    The Case Against College Entitlements with Rep. Paul Ryan and Author Charles Murray
    ReasonVids
    945 views
    Thumbnail for 회전 초밥 한판만 #asmr | 먹스나Muk Sna0:23
    회전 초밥 한판만 #asmr | 먹스나Muk Sna
    invidious
    271 views
    Thumbnail for Teachers Unions and School Choice: Q&A with Green Dot Schools Founder Steve Barr1:21
    Teachers Unions and School Choice: Q&A with Green Dot Schools Founder Steve Barr
    ReasonVids
    832 views
    Thumbnail for 1965 Oldsmobile Starfire Commercial with John "Shorty" Powers of NASA1:03
    1965 Oldsmobile Starfire Commercial with John "Shorty" Powers of NASA
    bestofpoal
    1689 views
    Thumbnail for Budget Deficits for Dummies: Or how I learned to stop worrying and love $1.4 trillion1:32
    Budget Deficits for Dummies: Or how I learned to stop worrying and love $1.4 trillion
    ReasonVids
    1029 views
    Thumbnail for Netinyajew admits it 0:32
    Netinyajew admits it
    bestofupgoat
    255 views
    Thumbnail for "Instead of giving them iPads..."0:09
    "Instead of giving them iPads..."
    AOUisgay
    509 views
    Thumbnail for Matt Welch: The Reagan Coalition Is Dissolving1:40
    Matt Welch: The Reagan Coalition Is Dissolving
    ReasonVids
    954 views
    Thumbnail for Mike Pence is a Conservative Statist: Judge Andrew Napolitano on Trump's VP Pick0:43
    Mike Pence is a Conservative Statist: Judge Andrew Napolitano on Trump's VP Pick
    ReasonVids
    961 views
    Thumbnail for How Trump Will Reshape Foreign Policy11:29
    How Trump Will Reshape Foreign Policy
    ReasonVids
    937 views
    Thumbnail for Collective Bargaining and the Bottom Line: Q&A with Heritage Foundation's James Sherk5:36
    Collective Bargaining and the Bottom Line: Q&A with Heritage Foundation's James Sherk
    ReasonVids
    996 views
    Thumbnail for The X-Files Season 02 Episode 03 - Blood45:15
    The X-Files Season 02 Episode 03 - Blood
    Fromcytube
    580 views
    Thumbnail for Stealing Society | System Of A Down - Topic2:58
    Stealing Society | System Of A Down - Topic
    invidious
    191 views
    Thumbnail for What We Saw at the #MuslimBan Protest at LAX5:43
    What We Saw at the #MuslimBan Protest at LAX
    ReasonVids
    906 views
    Thumbnail for When it finally clicks0:01
    When it finally clicks
    voatcatbox
    543 views
    Thumbnail for 3 Reasons Anchorman 2 is The Most Important Movie of The Year1:52
    3 Reasons Anchorman 2 is The Most Important Movie of The Year
    ReasonVids
    995 views
    Thumbnail for Judge Andrew Napolitano: President Trump Obstructed15:29
    Judge Andrew Napolitano: President Trump Obstructed
    ReasonVids
    957 views
    Thumbnail for What Do Black People Think?13:21
    What Do Black People Think?
    AmericanRenaissance
    1746 views
    Thumbnail for Masked bandit0:07
    Masked bandit
    bestofvoatxyz
    793 views
    Thumbnail for Dave Weigel on Presidential Politics4:15
    Dave Weigel on Presidential Politics
    ReasonVids
    959 views
    Thumbnail for Stossel: Moral Panic Over Sex Work5:50
    Stossel: Moral Panic Over Sex Work
    ReasonVids
    963 views
    Thumbnail for Remy: I Love L.A. (Randy Newman Parody)2:32
    Remy: I Love L.A. (Randy Newman Parody)
    ReasonVids
    996 views

points

Permalink
Reply
primary election
,
general election
,
nonpartisan blanket primary
,
single-party state (form of government)
,
election (quotation subject)
,
third party politics
,
libertarian party
,
green party
,
reform party of the united states of america (political party)
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle