A law that was brought in under Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to give all candidates an equal chance at the ballot is now being contested.
In California, the primaries — dubbed the “jungle primaries” — work in a way where the two candidates, regardless of party, who secure the top two positions in the June primary advance to the general election.
Now, a newly filed application is aiming to change that.
Political consultant Steve Maviglio filed a petition with state officials last week seeking a return to the pre-2010 traditional primary system, where separate primaries are held for each party and two candidates — one Republican and one Democrat — advance to the general election.
In a Democratic stronghold where nearly 50% of registered voters are Democrats, compared to roughly 25% combined independents and Republicans, the current system has long been viewed as favoring Democrats in statewide races.
“It was extremely scary to envision the November ballot for governor with Republicans on it,” Maviglio told the LA Times.
Early polls in the 2026 governor’s race indicated two Republican candidates — one endorsed by Donald Trump, Steve Hilton, and Chad Bianco — were leading in the race to replace termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom.
That raised the possibility that Californians could be forced to choose between two Republicans in a general election, landing a republican governor — something the state has not seen since 2011, when Schwarzenegger was in his second term.
California voters approved Proposition 14 in 2010, creating the current top-two primary system. Supporters argued it would reduce partisan gridlock and encourage more moderate candidates, while critics said it weakened political parties and limited voter choice in the general election.
A website advocating for the change has also surfaced: Undo the Top Two
“This failed experiment is an undemocratic system that produces no benefits and corrupts the electoral process,” the website states. “Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, the Green Party, and the Peace & Freedom Party all agree: undo the ‘top two’ and restore a system that allows you to vote for the candidate of your party, no matter what it is, and restores the ability to write-in candidates.”
When Proposition 14 was introduced, it faced opposition from major political parties and leaders such as Shirley Weber, who argued the open primary system would not solve political dysfunction or improve voter representation. Schwarzenegger, meanwhile, backed the measure, arguing it would reduce partisan gridlock and force candidates to appeal to a broader range of voters.
The ballot measure ultimately passed with 54% of voters supporting its implementation. No major effort to overturn the system had emerged until now.
The California Post has reached out to Bianco and Hilton for comment on the proposal. Other candidates polling in the top five were also contacted for comment.
The Post has also reached out to the Governor’s office for comment.
