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California Democrats are suddenly having second thoughts about the “jungle” primary — and only because it might finally bite them. Rusty Hicks, the chair of the California Democratic Party, is publicly suggesting the state should change its top-two primary system now that the idea of two Republicans advancing to the general election is real. That is the story. Not the system’s long track record, not the theory behind it — just the panic when things might not go their way.
What Rusty Hicks is Actually Proposing
The “jungle” or top-two primary puts every candidate into one big pool. The two who get the most votes, no matter their party, move on to the general election. For years that setup helped Democrats hold statewide power. Now, with a real chance two Republicans could finish in the top two, the party chair says maybe the rules need changing. Translation: the system is fine until it threatens your preferred outcome.
Why Democrats Suddenly Don’t Like the Top-Two Primary
It’s worth noting what’s driving the complaint. When a primary format helps your party win more seats, you call it fair. When the same rules might let voters choose two Republicans in November, it becomes a problem that needs “fixing.” That is political honesty in reverse. California Democrats are defending their turf — not democracy. The flexibility to change the rules only when you’re losing is the kind of thing voters notice and don’t like.
Why Republicans Should Keep Calm and Keep the System
Republicans should not let Democrats rewrite the playbook after the whistle blows. The jungle primary gives voters real choice and forces candidates to win more than just a narrow party base. If Republicans can unite around strong candidates and appeal to independents, the system can work for them — and it’s working now. Trying to swap it out for a closed partisan primary or some other fix would be rigging the rules to favor a single party again.
Don’t Let Rule-Changing Become the New Normal
Changing election rules whenever one party fears a bad outcome is dangerous. It erodes trust and hands more power to the rule-makers, not the voters. California Republicans should push back, explain how the top-two primary expands voter choice, and highlight the hypocrisy of those who cheer “democracy” until they lose. If Democrats want to keep winning, they should win on ideas and votes — not on changing the rules at the first sign of trouble.
