Staff Reports
A Sacramento Democratic strategist has done the unthinkable: he filed an initiative to scrap the very election rule his party backed for years. Steven Maviglio submitted Initiative 26‑0004, titled “Undo the Top‑Two,” to the California Attorney General. The goal is simple — kill the top‑two primary and bring back partisan primaries — and the motive is even simpler: Democrats fear two Republicans could end up on the November ballot in the governor’s race.
What’s happening: The filing and how it works
The mechanics behind Initiative 26‑0004
Maviglio’s initiative asks voters to amend Article II of the California Constitution. If it qualifies and passes, the nonpartisan “top‑two” primary system set up by Proposition 14 would be replaced by the old partisan primary where each party advances its top vote‑getter. Because this is a constitutional amendment, backers must gather a large number of valid signatures to reach the ballot — meaning the earliest real chance to vote on it is the 2028 statewide ballot. The Attorney General will prepare an official title and summary before signatures are collected.
Why Democrats suddenly want a redo
The short answer: panic. A crowded Democratic field in the governor’s primary has pushed Republican candidates like Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco high in some polls. Maviglio said the idea of waking up to two Republicans on the November ballot “sent a shiver up my spine.” Funny how shivers work: for years Democrats shrugged when top‑two delivered all‑Dem general elections and a chokehold on the legislature. Since 2012, there have been roughly 100 Democrat‑vs‑Democrat state legislative general elections versus about 26 Republican‑vs‑Republican matchups. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, party operatives and even labor leaders say they want the rule changed.
What repeal would mean for California politics
Repealing top‑two would hand nomination control back to parties. That changes campaign strategy, fundraising, and who gets attention in primaries. Smaller parties — Greens, Libertarians — would likely regain a clearer path to the ballot because they wouldn’t be constantly squeezed by a single nonpartisan primary. Expect a fight: longtime backers of the reform, including former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, will push back and argue top‑two promotes competition. But the politics here are obvious — rules that once helped Democrats are suddenly “unfair” when they might hurt them.
Conclusion: Not a principled stand, just a self‑preserving one
This filing is news because it peels back the curtain on partisan self‑interest. Democrats had the top‑two system when it worked for them. Now that the math might deny them the November ballot slot, they’re in a frenzy to undo it. Conservatives should laugh a little, but pay attention — changes to how Californians pick leaders matter more than the latest party tantrum. Initiative 26‑0004 is the opening gambit. If it gains real support and signatures, California could be headed for a big fight over who gets to decide elections: voters, parties, or political strategists chasing comfort for their own side.
