Voters in California may get a chance to remake the state\u2019s open primary system in two years.<\/p>\n
Political consultant Steve Maviglio filed an application Friday with state officials that seeks to alter California\u2019s voting system by reverting to a traditional primary. Under the proposal, the top candidates from each party<\/a> would advance to the general election in November.<\/p>\n The current system allows the top two candidates, regardless of party, to move on to the runoff. That has led to instances in which two Democrats or two Republicans have faced off in the general election.<\/p>\n The state\u2019s gubernatorial election, for example, has prompted concern that two Republicans could shut out the Democratic candidates. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton have polled high in various surveys and are facing a large field of Democrats. <\/p>\n Democratic voters vastly outnumber Republicans in California, yet some political consultants said they feared there were so many Democrats running that voters wouldn\u2019t coalesce around one candidate and the field would be split. Those fears have eased somewhat in recent months as some Democratic candidates advance from the pack.<\/p>\n The state\u2019s top-two primary system has been in place since California voters passed Proposition 14 in 2010. The state\u2019s major political parties opposed the initiative, while Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger supported it.<\/p>\n The goal was to help end partisan gridlock in Sacramento and force candidates in primaries to appeal to a wider range of voters, rather than just those in their own party.<\/p>\n Proposition 14, as well as the state\u2019s once-a-decade redistricting process, has led to some dramatic races, including the 2012 face-off between Democratic Reps. Brad Sherman and Howard Berman<\/a> for a congressional seat in Los Angeles\u2019 San Fernando Valley. Amid aspersions and attack ads, the pair nearly came to blows<\/a> at a community debate. <\/p>\n Maviglio described the ballot measure as a simple repeal of Proposition 14, and said he was inspired by the governor\u2019s race.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was extremely scary to envision the November ballot for governor with Republicans on it,\u201d Maviglio said.<\/p>\n