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Undemocratic “Top Two” Primary Obliterates Voter Choice in November Election
SACRAMENTO, July 15, 2026 – According to the recently released Secretary of State’s complete Statement of Vote, California voters will only be able to choose between two candidates from the same political party in one statewide contest and nearly dozen other elections for state, Congressional, and legislative offices.
The “Top Two Primary,” the result of a backroom deal by politicians in 2010 that put Prop 14 on the ballot, will leave millions of Californians without the ability to cast ballots for candidates that share their values this November. A “Soviet-style” ballot with only one political party represented will be the only “choice” that Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and third-party voters will have come November on the statewide general election ballot and in local districts.
Aside from the near-miss in the Governor’s race, where only 166,611 votes of 9,446,461 cast (1.8 percent) prevented a contest between two members of the same party, the Top Two had significant impacts up and down the ballot.
Here is how the Top Two primary in June has limited voter choice in November.
In several constitutional office races, the state’s Republican voters are completely shut out in three contests, with no independent nor third-party candidate alternatives on the ballot. The Insurance Commissioner’s contest will feature two Democrats facing off in November, while two of the state’s four Board of Equalization districts have Democrat vs. Democrat battles.
Nine races for Congress will have one party locked out of the November election. Seven races for the U.S. House of Representatives will see two Democrats squaring off against each other, with one Republican vs. Republican race in CD 40. One other race (CD 6) will not have a Republican candidate, the result of a party-switch by Congressman Kevin Kiley, who is now listed as No Party Preference.
Legislative races are similarly undemocratic. Two State Senate districts (SD 24 and SD 26) will feature two Democrats facing each other. In the Assembly, there will be one Republican vs. Republican race in November (AD3) while seven districts will leave voters the choice between two Democrats (ADs 12, 38, 51, 55, 66, 68 & 69). Republicans will not be on the ballot in two other districts (AD 14, 15). No Democrat will be on the ballot in five districts (AD 3, 22, 32. 59, 63). Two districts (AD 22 and 32) have only one candidate in November, as no parties nor independents filed.
Independent candidates also have been virtually eliminated under the Top Two Primary. Only two independent (no party preference candidates) will be on the November ballot (GOP-turned-NPP candidate Kevin Kiley in CD 6, and AD 15 where no Republican was on the June ballot, allowing a NPP candidate to secure the second spot).
Third party candidates will appear on the ballot in only three legislative races (Green Party candidate in AD 14, a Libertarian candidate in AD 22 where no Democrat filed, and a Peace and Freedom candidate in AD63, where there also was not a Democrat on the ballot).
A reminder: Under Top Two, voters may not write in a name for a voter-nominated contest in the General Election. In addition, there is no independent nomination process for a General Election. This is why there is no write-in line for these offices.
This failed experiment is an undemocratic system that produces no benefits and corrupts the electoral process. Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, the Peace & Freedom Party, the Green Party – and partisans & leaders representing all ends of the political spectrum from the California Labor Federation to Reform California agree – undo the “Top Two” and give California voters to cast their ballots for candidates that reflect their values.
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INITIATIVE TO REPEAL CALIFORNIA’s “TOP TWO” PRIMARY FILED
“Undo The Top Two” Would Eliminate Chance of Two Candidates from One Party on General Election Ballot
SACRAMENTO, May 10, 2026 – A ballot initiative to repeal California’s “Top Two” primary on the November 2028 ballot was filed with the Attorney General’s office today.
The measure, “Undo the Top Two,” is a simple repeal of Proposition 14, which was approved by voters in 2010.
The grassroots repeal effort is fueled by concerns that California’s primaries are disenfranchising a majority of California voters by limiting choice to candidates from one party.
“This year’s gubernatorial primary has put the spotlight on the undemocratic Top Two primary,” says former Democratic Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez. “The notion that Democrats could wake up to two Republicans on the November ballot, or that Republicans could have the choice of only two Democrats, is unfathomable. It is high time to eliminate the jungle primary so that voters of every political party and independents can be assured they will have a candidate representing their philosophy in the general election.”
“The top-two primary system is a failed experiment,” says former California Republican Party Chair Ron Nehring. “It achieved none of its intended goals of moderating California politics, while it has denied millions of Californians meaningful choices in the general elections where most people vote. It’s time for it to go. Every Californian deserves the option of voting for a candidate of any party in the general election,” he continued. “There is a good reason why no other state has adopted a top-two primary system since California did. No one can look at this crazy system and say it’s producing good results, or working as intended.”
California Democratic Party chairman Rusty Hicks told The Guardian this week, “The current system we have does not work. It needs to be revised or repealed.”
California Labor Federation President Lorena Gonzalez recently tweeted: “The jungle primary (top 2) in California is trash. Worst political reform in semi-recent California history. Failed experiment.”
Leaders of California’s Green Party and Libertarian Parties also are in favor of repealing the Top Two. “Third parties” have been effectively shut out of California’s general elections.
“The top two system effectively shuts out third-party and independent candidates by preventing them from reaching the general election ballot,” former California Libertarian Party Chair Mimi Robson.” A repeal would restore a system where voters can consider a full range of political perspectives, not just those of the two dominant old parties.”
“California’s ‘top-two’ primary system silences voters by excluding alternative voices and forcing millions to choose between candidates who don't represent their values,” notes David Cobb of the Green Party of California. “We call for its abolition and replacement with a truly democratic system that guarantees fair access, robust debate, and meaningful voter choice.”
The official proponent of the measure is Steven Maviglio, a Sacramento-based political strategist.The website is: www.undothetoptwo.com/
Contact: Steven Maviglio 916-607-8340
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Join The Campaign
The 'Jungle Primary' silences voices and restricts choice. Join us in repealing the "top two" primary and ensure every Californian is fairly represented.