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How not to run an election: California edition

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by Bill Press, opinion contributor - 05/19/26 9:30 AM ET

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by Bill Press, opinion contributor - 05/19/26 9:30 AM ET

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Steve Hilton, center, speaks during a California gubernatorial debate hosted by CBS Bay Area and the San Francisco Examiner in San Francisco, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, Pool)

California is a lot more than just one of 50 states. It is another country altogether — a global trendsetter in entertainment, agriculture, high tech, education, environment, innovation and creativity, with its own trade policy and foreign policy.

In many ways, California is a world leader, with one big exception: the way it handles statewide elections.

Its so-called “jungle primary” — now underway in this year’s gubernatorial election — is a monumental embarrassment. The only thing good about it is its name: “jungle” primary. Because that’s where it belongs — in the jungle, where total disorder reigns. It does not belong in civilized society, and definitely not in something so basic to democracy as electing our leaders.

In a “jungle primary,” all candidates for run against each other on the same ballot, regardless of party. The top two vote-getters — again, regardless of party — advance to the general election ballot. Which means, on the November ballot, you could have any conceivable combination: two Democrats, two Republicans, or one of each; or a Republican or Democrat and an Independent. In short, whoever survives the jungle primary reaches November.

The result is chaos. Just look at this year’s June 2 primary for governor, where early voting is already underway. California voters have 61 candidates to choose from: 24 Democrats, 23 No Party affiliation, 12 Republicans, 1 Libertarian, and 1 Peace and Freedom member. All names are on the ballot, in no particular order, alphabetic or otherwise.

It doesn’t matter what their credentials are, how much experience they have, or what their goals are if elected. Any two of them could end up on top of the November ballot, including some unknown small businessman who goes by the name “Barack D. Obama Shaw” and is actually on the ballot. It’s a total roll of the dice.

At first, this year’s crowded primary caused a great deal of angst, especially among Democrats. With Democrats holding almost a 2-to-1 registration edge over Republicans, you would think electing a new Democratic governor would be a slam dunk. In fact, no Republican has been elected statewide in California since 2006. But with so many Democrats running for governor, the possibility arises that they will split the Democratic vote so that two Republicans — God forbid! — advance to the general election ballot.

Democrats panicked. The state Democratic chair pleaded with low-ranking Democrats to drop out, but nobody would do it. Ironically, in the end, President Trump may have saved the day for Democrats by endorsing Republican candidate Steve Hilton — which means he’ll get the majority of Republican votes, squeezing out any other Republican, and the final choice in November will more likely be between Hilton and the top-ranking Democrat.

At this point, who that is remains a mystery. Again, Democrats could not have done a worse job in presenting a strong, unified front. Former Vice President Kamala Harris was everybody’s first choice. She decided not to run. Sen. Alex Padilla (D) was drafted next, but he also opted out. That left a field of eight serious Democratic candidates: former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; former state Controller Betty Yee; state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond; former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra; then-Rep. Eric Swalwell; San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan; businessman Tom Steyer; and former Rep. Katie Porter.

After initial skirmishes, the contest appeared to settle down, with Swalwell leading the pack — until he, too, dropped out over sexual harassment charges. Facing low polling numbers, Yee also left the race. Utter chaos again ruled the Democratic primary as the remaining six strong contenders vied for Swalwell’s former supporters.

Currently, Becerra seems to be emerging as the frontrunner. As the candidate with the most experience — former state assemblyman, congressman, Cabinet secretary, and state attorney general — he now holds a slim lead.

Whoever wins this year’s campaign for California governor, the big loser will be the jungle primary. Efforts are already underway to place an initiative on the 2028 ballot to repeal it and return to the standard primary system used in virtually every other state.

California’s jungle primary was adopted i