Probably not worth mentioning the lost cause, but California just mailed their “nonpartisan blanket primaries” out to every registered voter. This is basically permanent vote by mail where you have the choice to mail ballots back or drop off — I think you can still vote in-person but it’s being discouraged.
Adding to the blackpill (and an explanation for non-Californians or Washingtonians), this jungle primary means every candidate runs at once, which means you have several Republicans running against several Democrats. The top two candidates go head-to-head in the November general elections. This means it’s almost always two candidates from the same party running against each other for Governor, Senator, and/or Representative. Voter turnout in primaries is traditionally low, so disproportionately diehards and paid-Union-types (who usually vote establishment/careerist D) pick the candidates. This is one of the reasons why CA and WA have de-facto one-party rule.
The most bizarre thing is that in CA, there is zero energy on all sides. Gov. Newsom is running for re-election right after the failed recall and neither he or other candidates are really campaigning. Other races are equally apathetic. I expect extremely low voter turnout this season.
More Political Science savy Kiwis: what is the benefit of a jungle primary? I’ve read it SUPPOSEDLY forces candidates to be less extreme but in the few places that use it, it leads to one-party rule.
