Tuesday’s wild races for California governor, and other elections to watch

California's gubernatorial primaries operate under a distinctive "top-two" or "jungle primary" system, where all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, compete on a single ballot. The two candidates who receive the most votes then advance to the general election. This system, established in 2010 by Proposition 14 and implemented in 2012, was intended to foster greater competition and encourage candidates to appeal to a broader electorate beyond their party base.

The unique nature of this primary often leads to scenarios where two candidates from the same political party could face each other in the general election, particularly in a heavily partisan state like California. This has generated significant discussion, especially among Democrats, who sometimes express concern about the possibility of vote splitting among numerous candidates, potentially allowing two Republicans to advance in a "deep blue" state.

Despite these concerns, proponents argue that the top-two system has successfully increased competition in primary elections and encouraged more moderate candidates, leading to a depolarization in state legislative and congressional levels. The system also offers all registered voters, including those without party preference, a voice in selecting general election candidates.