blog post Quirks of the Top-Two Primary By Eric McGhee Jun 5, 2014 It’s worth thinking about whether a same-party contest is really the match-up voters there would like to see.
Report Test-driving California’s Election Reforms By Eric McGhee, Daniel Krimm Sep 13, 2012 In the June 2012 primary, California tested two important electoral changes: new legislative and congressional districts drawn by an independent citizens commission and a "top two" primary system. The results suggest the reforms produced some changes—in particular, more open seats and more competition. However, there was also a great deal of continuity with recent elections: most candidates endorsed by a major party and all incumbents are advancing to the fall election and partisan outcomes were broadly in line with what might have been expected under the old primary system. Over time, the reforms may produce more radical change, but the first step on the road of reform has been a small one.
blog post The Top-Two System and Election 2016 By Eric McGhee Nov 10, 2016 This election marked the third outing for California's "top two" primary system.
blog post Assessing the Top Two Primary By Eric McGhee Jun 9, 2016 How is the top two primary faring? There will be 22 same-party races this election cycle, similar to but slightly lower than the 25 in 2014 and 28 in 2012.
blog post The Power of the Primary Voter By Eric McGhee May 8, 2014 Voters are starting to think seriously about whether or not to vote on June 3—in fact, many voters have received their vote-by-mail ballots already. And because of a recent change to California’s primary system, this decision about voting will be more important than ever.
blog post The Election Was Hard on California Democrats, Too By Eric McGhee, Daniel Krimm Nov 7, 2014 On the surface, it would appear that California stood against a tide of Republican victories nationwide. But scratch just beneath the surface, and it turns out the state is not so different.
Fact Sheet California’s New Electoral Reforms: The Fall Election By Eric McGhee, Daniel Krimm Nov 8, 2012
blog post Three Lessons About California’s Election Reforms By Eric McGhee, Daniel Krimm Nov 5, 2014 California got its second taste of two important reforms yesterday: legislative and congressional districts drawn by an independent redistricting commission and a "top-two” primary system. How did they do this time around?