(March 1, 2011) With California’s new top two primary system now in effect, the California Chamber of Commerce hosted a seminar on February 17 to analyze the impacts of the new primary system for elections in the state.

Erin McCallum, president of Enterprise Washington, was the featured speaker at a seminar hosted by the California Chamber of Commerce  to analyze the impacts of the new primary system for elections in the state. Photo by Megan Wood

In June 2010, voters passed CalChamber-supported Proposition 14, the California Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act. Proposition 14 requires that candidates run in a single primary open to all registered voters. The top two vote-getters regardless of party affiliation then meet in a general election runoff.

Erin McCallum, president of Enterprise Washington, a Washington state-based group dedicated to electing business-minded legislators, was the featured speaker at the seminar. She shared her organization’s experience with that state’s version of the top two primary system, which took effect in 2008.

“A lot of our pretty progressive Democrats, that have been driving Washington State’s political arena, are becoming more moderate,” stated McCallum. The top two primary system will start to “level the playing field” between Democrats and Republicans.

McCallum also discussed the importance the primary election will play compared to the general election. Many times the fight between Republican and Democrats will be decided in the primary and in strong-leaning Democrat or Republican districts, the general election could have two candidates in the same party facing off against each other.

Other issues that came out of the discussion included the idea that there will be an increase in voter participation and engagement, especially in the primaries and with Decline to State voters.

Staff Contact: Rob Lapsley