Schwarzenegger predicts more top-two state primaries

LOS ANGELES — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger commended California voters Wednesday for dumping the state’s partisan primary system and predicted fed-up voters would follow in other states.

California is only the third state to embrace open contests. Proposition 14 was patterned after a law in Washington state that survived a U.S. Supreme Court challenge and has been in effect since 2008. Louisiana has a similar open system for its general election.

However, there were no guarantees that California’s passage of Proposition 14, which created open primaries in the state, would end the partisan bickering that has hamstrung Congress and state legislatures.

U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, pointed out that California’s legislative and congressional districts are heavily gerrymandered and favor one party or the other.

Thus, the winner of the primary who is in the majority party typically coasts to victory in the general election.

In some heavily Democratic or Republican districts, the minority party may not have “somebody on the ballot in November to champion the causes” of that party, Waxman said.

Schwarzenegger, the state’s outgoing Republican governor, contends that a partisan primary system forces candidates to pander to the extreme wing of their party to win primaries.

“We in California have said we’ve got to come to the center,” Schwarzenegger said. “I think the rest of the nation eventually will find out this is exactly what the action is, not go way to the right, not go way to the left.”

Under Proposition 14, California voters can cast ballots for any candidate in a primary election, regardless of party, with the top two finishers moving on to the general election.

Approval of the measure reflected voter anger in California and across the nation at a system that critics complained has been dominated by a small coterie of political activists in each of the two major political parties.

Schwarzenegger’s campaign committee gave $2 million to support the initiative, but he did not say whether he would be willing to put his political muscle behind a national open-primary effort.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

The new Crucible Brewing owners Johanna Watson-Andresen and Erik Andresen inside the south Everett brewery on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
South Everett brewery, set to close, finds lifeline in new owners

The husband and wife who bought Crucible Brewing went on some of their first dates there.

The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it's one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo council passes budget with deficit, hopes for new revenue

Proponents said safeguards were in place to make future changes. Detractors called it “irresponsible.”

Andy Bronson/ The Herald 

Everett mayor Ray Stephenson looks over the city on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2015 in Everett, Wa. Stephanson sees  Utah’s “housing first” model – dealing with homelessness first before tackling related issues – is one Everett and Snohomish County should adopt.

Local:issuesStephanson

Shot on: 1/5/16
Economic Alliance taps former Everett mayor as CEO

Ray Stephanson will serve as the interim leader of the Snohomish County group.

Molbak's Garden + Home in Woodinville, Washington will close on Jan. 28. (Photo courtesy of Molbak's)
After tumultuous year, Molbak’s is being demolished in Woodinville

The beloved garden store closed in January. And a fundraising initiative to revitalize the space fell short.

Lane Scott Phipps depicted with an AK-47 tattoo going down the side of his face. (Snohomish County Superior Court)
Man gets 28 years in Lynnwood kidnapping case

Prosecutors also alleged Lane Phipps shot at police officers, but a jury found him not guilty of first-degree assault charges.

The sun sets beyond the the Evergreen Branch of the Everett Public Library as a person returns some books on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘A brutal hit’: Everett library cuts will lead to reduced hours, staffing

The cuts come as the city plans to reduce the library’s budget by 12% in 2025.

People take photos of the lights surrounding the the fountain at the the entrance to the Tulalip Resort & Casino on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Record Tulalip holiday display lights up the night

The largest light display in Washington is free of charge and open through Jan. 12.

People walk into the Everett Library off of Hoyt Avenue on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
How will new Everett library hours affect its programs?

This month, the two branches scaled back its hours in light of budget cuts stemming from a city deficit.

The Evergreen Branch of the Everett Public Library is open and ready for blast off. Dillon Works, of Mukilteo, designed this eye-catching sculpture that greets people along Evergreen Way.   (Dan Bates / The Herald)
Snohomish County awards money to improve warming, cooling centers

The money for HVAC improvements will allow facilities to better serve as temporary shelters for weather-related events.

Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin talks about the 2025 budget with the city council before voting on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves $644M budget with cuts to parks, libraries

The budget is balanced, but 31 employees are losing their jobs after cuts were made to close a deficit.

FILE — Boeing 737 MAX8 airplanes on the assembly line at the Boeing plant in Renton, Wash., on March 27, 2019. Boeing said on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, that it was shaking up the leadership in its commercial airplanes unit after a harrowing incident last month during which a piece fell off a 737 Max 9 jet in flight. (Ruth Fremson/The New York Times)
Federal judge rejects Boeing’s guilty plea related to 737 Max crashes

The plea agreement included a fine of up to $487 million and three years of probation.

Lynnwood
Man killed in crash into Lynnwood apartment complex

The man in his late 30s or early 40s crashed into the building on 208th Street SW early Thursday morning, officials said.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.