SACRAMENTO – California’s reputation for electing ideologues has been a source of endless frustration in the Capitol, allowing the most ardent liberals and conservatives to hold up legislation and block approval of the state budget until one or two finally compromise.
Starting this week, it was supposed to be different. When voters passed a 2010 initiative to move the top two candidates in each race on to the general election regardless of party affiliation, the goal was to give moderate voters the opportunity to cross party lines in primary elections to elect more moderate lawmakers.
But for the majority of districts in Tuesday’s open primary, political observers said, that was not the case.
“It’s business as usual,” said Scott Lay, a political blogger and Community College League of California president and CEO.
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