The measure's intent -- to tamp down the ineffective partisanship that has gripped our state and put more pragmatic politicians into office -- is commendable. Yet The Reporter's Editorial Board believes that its unintended consequences will ultimately hurt, rather than help, the situation. For that reason, the board is recommending a no vote on this measure.
Proposition 14 claims that it would encourage more moderate candidates by doing away with the partisan primary system.
The June 8 vote is one of those primaries. When it comes to choosing statewide candidates or legislators, voters will receive a ballot that reflects their party preference. Democrats will vote for Democratic contenders; Republicans for Republicans; Libertarians for Libertarians, and so on. Registered voters who decline to state their political affiliation usually have the option of voting in the political primary of their choice.
Proposition 14 would eliminate those separate elections. All candidates for Congress, the U.S. Senate, the state Legislature, the governor's office, secretary of state, etc., would run against each other regardless of party affiliation. The top two vote-getters then would face off in November.
Proponents of Proposition 14 claim that eliminating the partisan primary will allow more moderate candidates to emerge because they will no longer have to appeal to their party's base, which can be quite liberal or conservative. But there are down sides to Proposition 14.
Critics are right to point out that this would also do away with third parties, whose candidates now are guaranteed a spot on the November ballot.
Under Proposition 14, primary candidates would have to appeal to a larger group of voters up front. Effectively, they would have to run a full campaign in June and then, if successful, fund another full campaign in the fall. That will make it more expensive to run for office, which means candidates will have to find deep-pocket backers.
Candidates also will have a choice of whether to identify their political affiliation or not. That could lead to stealth candidates attempting to disguise their true colors to fool voters.
One other concern that voters should have is that this measure eliminates their option to write in a candidate in the November election. While successful write-in campaigns are rare, they have occurred. Voters should have the opportunity to make that call.
There's no doubt that California's political system isn't working well right now, but Proposition 14 doesn't guarantee that it will make it work any better. In the long run, the unintended consequences of Proposition 14 make it an unpalatable choice.
Vote no on Proposition 14.