California Vote to Radically Alter Primaries Could Have Huge Impact

CBS/ AP

Have you heard the big news California voters delivered last night?

No, not the nominations of Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina. Yes, there's a neat story line for November -- two wealthy Republican women who ran Silicon Valley companies competing against Jerry Brown and Barbara Boxer, two consummate Democratic office-holders--but the really big news was different.

As it has done so often in the past, California used its century old direct-democracy tool to enact a radical change in its election process. By passing Proposition 14, Californians have effectively abolished party primaries.

Starting next year, candidates running for the state legislature, the U.S. Congress, or statewide offices will compete in a non-partisan "Jungle primary." Whether Republican or Democrat, Libertarian or Green Party or Tea Party, everyone's in the same contest, and only the top-two vote-getters will compete in November.

While in most cases this will result in a Republican vs. a Democrat, there's no guarantee that this will happen. In fact, in districts that tilt heavily toward one or another major party, it's entirely possible that November will see two Republicans or Democrats as finalists. What's even more likely is that minor parties will effectively be eliminated from any voice at all in November--one reason why a court challenge to the "Jungle Primary" is inevitable.

Proposition 14 was strongly supported by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger -- who came to the governor's chair in 2003 not by way of a Republican primary (which his liberal social views might have prevented him from winning) but via the recall mechanism that removed his predecessor, Gray Davis, while simultaneously electing Schwarzenegger.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Campaign 2010

Schwarzenegger and fellow supporters argue that the all-in primary will force candidates to appeal to the moderate center, potentially ending the gridlock that has paralyzed California's state legislature (Democrats fear to challenge the power of public employee unions; Republicans fear that any step toward anything that looks like a tax increase will trigger a primary against them).

Opponents warn it will still the often valuable arguments of minor parties, and may in some cases -- where hordes of Republicans and Democrats enter a primary -- result in two fringe candidates making it to the finals.

While Washington State and Louisiana have adopted forms of the "Jungle Primary" without radical consequences, there is no real way of knowing what may happen if the most populous state in the Union so drastically alters its political process. Down the road, the adoption of Proposition 14 may turn out to be the most significant vote of the night.

More CBSNews.com Coverage of Tuesday's Primaries:

Winners: Blanche Lincoln | Nikki Haley | Meg Whitman | Carly Fiorina | Sharron Angle | Roundup
Anthony Salvanto: What's Next for the Big Primary Winners?
Bob Schieffer: Money and Melodrama Shape Primaries
Marc Ambinder: How Did Sen. Blanche Lincoln Pull Victory From the Jaws of Defeat?
Women Win Big on Primary Day
Interactive Map: CBS News Campaign 2010 Race Ratings

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Jeff Greenfield is CBS News' senior political correspondent. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here

[nojoy01]

So, will the ballot list candidates in alphabetical order? A-Z or Z-A? Or maybe when the candidate registered for the primary. First to last or last to first? Or maybe there'll be a drawing to determine how the list of canditates appears on the ballot. The only thing that would have made this deal sweeter would have been if the Proposition/Amendment had decreed that the winner of any office in an election had to have a majority of the ELIGIBLE voters possible. Then we'd wind up with some empty seats in congress & that would probably be an improvement over the current situation irregardless of party affiliation.

[dvillegas43-2009]

Where the hell does Texas and the remaining states sign up?

[jsilver2th]

Our Oregon voters had the good sense to turn down this lame idea two years ago- This will produce more political games and manipulation than one had ever seen- Why even have primaries at all if this is what it is about? Did you see Jerry Brown and Barbara Boxer got way more votes than either of the Republican corporate bosses?

[nojoy01]

by jsilver2th June 9, 2010 4:04 PM EDT

Our Oregon voters had the good sense to turn down this lame idea two years ago- This will produce more political games and manipulation than one had ever seen- Why even have primaries at all if this is what it is about? Did you see Jerry Brown and Barbara Boxer got way more votes than either of the Republican corporate bosses?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's the point jsilver. Campaigns are supposed to be a contest of ideas, not party affiliations. With this approach you should wind up NEVER having to vote "for the lessor of two evils". The one who is elected should ALWAYS be the one who resonates the most with the voters. Now as to "Why even have primaries at all if this is what it is about?" I'll agree. EVERYBODY appears on the final ballot. Everybody that files. If a Thousand file then a Thousand are on the ballot. And the winner is the one who gets the most votes, regardless of the percentage. That way we can guarantee that the one elected is the one most of the voters wanted elected. Of course, we may wind up with some real looney tunes in Washington but, what the hey, It'd still be a major improvement over what we've got.

[nathanconroy40]

Sure, it's a great idea to get rid of political parties. Now people won't even have to identify themselves with any particular set of beliefs or policies. That's great! I've always wanted to vote for candidates purely based on a hunch that I get while listening to their smooth voices or gazing in rapt attention at their shiny faces. That's why I voted for Arnold in 2003, Obama in 2008, and I'll be voting for Palin in 2012!

Another commenter said: "Next get rid of parties and just run as people." I couldn't agree more! People should choose their candidate based on their personal feelings toward the candidate's personality, not based on politics. I'd way rather hear a candidate talk about their favorite movies and what they do on the weekend that about ISSUES. Issues are too political! We need to get all of this stupid politics out of elections and concentrate on what really matters: which candidate I have the warmest feelings towards!

Besides, I've always thought third parties were f**king annoying. They always bring up issues that hurt my forehead to think about. Who needs 'em!

I'm just happy that elections in California will now be fair and simple like the elections at my high school.

[nathanconroy40]

Sure, it's a great idea to get rid of political parties. Now people won't even have to identify themselves with any particular set of beliefs or policies. That's great! I've always wanted to vote for candidates purely based on a hunch that I get while listening to their smooth voices or gazing in rapt attention at their shiny faces. That's why I voted for Arnold in 2003, Obama in 2008, and I'll be voting for Palin in 2012!

Another commenter said: "Next get rid of parties and just run as people." I couldn't agree more! People should choose their candidate based on their personal feelings toward the candidate's personality, not based on politics. I'd way rather hear a candidate talk about their favorite movies and what they do on the weekend that about ISSUES. Issues are too political! We need to get all of this stupid politics out of elections and concentrate on what really matters: which candidate I have the warmest feelings towards!

Besides, I've always thought third parties were f**king annoying. They always bring up issues that hurt my forehead to think about. Who needs 'em!

I'm just happy that elections in California will now be fair and simple like the elections at my high school.

[cebling-2009]

So much for government by the people. California seats will now go to the candidate who can spend the most money. That, combined with the newly minted "rights" of corporations to spend as much as they want on a candidate, will create representative democracy of the corporations, by the corporations, for the corporations. Of course, that's the way it is now, but now it will all be above board. Can't wait to see Carly in a jump suit covered with corporate sponsor patches a la NASCAR.

[us_1776]

The only effective way to change the way our political system works is with PUBLIC campaign financing. Not one penny of private money allowed. This way each candidate gets a fixed amount of campaign financing and it levels the playing field to where the best of ideas for the country compete rather than who has the most money and can outspend the other candidates.

PUBLIC campaign financing is how we fix the way Washington works.

[velma179]

Actually there was a Proposistion that failed in CA yesterday that was a "test" of Public Campaign financing. It only applied to the Secretay of State race, one that is usually not so controversial (even though Orly Taitz-yeah the crazy Israeli born "birther queen was running this year -- she lost big, by the way... hooray CA voters for something!).

Anyway, if this Prop would have passed, I'd be a lot happier about the Primary changes.

I know folks get sick of hearing it... but unfortunately, politics and money are an old married couple destined to live or die together in the American system. When it comes down to the top two candidates ONLY... the money will be the voice.
Honestly, if I saw Meg Whitman one more time on my TV in the last several months... I'd have thought she'd hacked the entire cable system. You couldn't watch the Food Network in politically free peace...

I don't look forward to the multitude of ads continuing this year. Next year? Oh no, I may have to go to Costa Rica (since Rush didn't... heeheee :-)

[Xring]

All is as it should be. The republic is still engaged in its experiment in representative democracy. Success is measured in change and failure in stagnation. (besides, we need to keep the talking heads fully employed)

[tsigili]

That's the biggest win for democracy in America, in decades.