More CAGOP-e Failure: Republican Local Leaders Bought to Support Top Two

The stupidity of the Republican "leadership" hurts.

I call them the CAGOP-e, or the California GOP establishment.

It hurts really bad, and it is hurting our partisan political process.

Men and women no longer real choice in their elections.

The argument that the Top Two Jungle Primary would create more moderate candidates and requiring them to reach across the aisle and compete for votes from other political parties.

The exact opposite has occurred, of course. More left-wing, progressive candidates are eating out our civic culture, ignoring the needs of California citizens, doing the bidding of vocal, rabid interest groups rather than listening to the voters.

In some cases, a general election runoff between two Democrats has allowed otherwise disenfranchised Republicans an opportunity to make a difference.

The better approach to doing better in California, however, rests on Republican reaching out to communities and making the difference to the individual residents and local interests. How about standing true to principles and values, and then registering voters in turn, in connection with those values? How about working with President Trump and his agenda, and showing how MAGA works for everyone?

Nope. Instead, Republican elected "leaders" are more interested in going along with the slow yet "inevitable" decline of the California Republican Party, as if there is nothing more that can be done.

Nonsense across the board.

Check out this latest appeal to authority as another failed argument for keeping Top Two:

Dear Delegate, By this time, you have heard arguments for and against the existing top two primary system framed in the context of its impact on legislative races. We thought it important for you to hear from those of us who have to run locally in open primaries and proven that when Reagan-Republican conservatism is properly explained, we can, and do, win in top two elections. As local elected officials, we are required in top two elections to reach out and build our conservative coalition early in the election process. Under these rules, Republicans actually hold over 1200 city and county offices, almost equal to the number of Democrats. We, your local elected officials, are rebuilding our party from the ground up. Republican candidates learning to win votes across party lines under top two rules isn't just a good thing - it's a necessity for Republicans in Democrat-dominated California. But now, some are arguing that we should eliminate the top two primary for our legislative and statewide candidates, as if just talking to ourselves until the general election will somehow make it easier to win in November. Republican friends, as local elected officials, we cannot stress enough that this effort to repeal the top two primary is short-sighted and will hurt the future growth of our party. Simply changing the rules won't grow our party, it will just send a message that we want to disenfranchise the fastest growing group of voters in California - NPP's and decline to states-- making it harder for us to reach out and win in the future. We urge you to reject efforts to repeal the top two primary. Local elected Republicans are proving that with our conservative message, we can reach out and win across party lines. That's how we will win again at the legislative and statewide level. Sincerely, Jesus Andrade Council Member, City of Stockton Jesse Armendarez Council Member, City of Fontana Mike Diaz Council Member, City of Chula Vista John Franklin Deputy Mayor, City of Vista Johnny Khamis Council Member, City of San Jose Linda Lindholm, Board Member, Orange County Board of Education Alan Nakanishi Council Member, City of Lodi Bob Nunez Council Member, City of Milpitas Peter Ohtaki Vice Mayor, City of Menlo Park Brian Raymond Council Member, City of Atwater Rich Silverman Council Member, City of Manteca Bernadette Suarez Council Member, City of Lawndale Ashley Swearengin Mayor, 2009-2016, City of Fresno Kirk Uhler Supervisor, Placer County Roland Velasco Mayor, City of Gilroy Acquanetta Warren Mayor, City of Fontana Lupe Ramos Watson Council Member, City of Indio Chuck Winn Supervisor, San Joaquin County Who cares who any of these people are? Really? I do not care what office they hold. The Top Two has been an unmitigated disaster for the state party, and for the democratic process  across the board. We as voters, we as Republicans, must take back our partisan primaries and re-establish control  over who gets elected. This Top Two stuff needs to stop. We need to allow for multiple parties to reference their preferences. We need real options,  whether we win or lose. Or else:

Make California Great Again: Reject Top Two Primary Fights

I am with Ron Nehring on this move.

Top Two has got to go.

Period.

No more of this jungle primary nonsense.

I want choices, and I want an opportunity to vote for a candidate more in line with my views.

In many cases, sadly, there is no Republican listed on the general election ballot. Most Republicans are not even bothering to run precisely because there is no guarantee they will make it into the Top Two--and that is especially disconcerting.

I still think of Nehring as somewhat establishment. Where was he between 2007 and 2011, since he served as chairman of the CA GOP?

I want to see more hard-core, punch-back leadership.

For this time, though, I am fully in agreement with Nehring.

Let us end Top Two NOW!

September 12, 2017 Dear Arthur,  You may have heard from some former legislators with the odd pitch that Republicans should preserve the deeply flawed "top two" primary system better known as Proposition 14. While we all respect those Republicans who have served in the legislature, this request is truly bizarre given what has happened to our party under this failed system. Proposition 14 should be repealed - immediately - so every voter in California has the opportunity to vote for a Republican in general elections. As you know, last year because of Proposition 14 California voters had the "choice" of voting for either liberal Democrat Kamala Harris or liberal Democrat Loretta Sanchez for U.S. Senate.  This is like choosing between vanilla and French vanilla. A choice between two Democrats is no choice at all. Under Proposition 14, literally millions of Californians have been denied the opportunity to vote for Republican candidates for Assembly, Senate, Congress, and statewide offices because only two Democrats were in the "top two." How can we possibly grow our Republican Party when voters do not have the option of even voting for a Republican candidate when most voters go to the polls in November? Since the adoption of Proposition 14 Republican strength in the legislature has dropped.  Many of the backers of the "top two" were convinced it would result in the election of more "moderate" Democrats.  Do you see any "moderation" by the Democrats in Sacramento? With Proposition 14 elections, the result has been the same old union dominated agenda of higher taxes for everyone, cap and trade, worsening regulations, more money wasted on high speed rail, and the list goes on. Meanwhile, our party has been left too often with no candidates, no representatives of our party, on the ballots for millions of voters. The solution to Proposition 14 is simple - every recognized party in California should have the ability to place before voters a nominee for every state and federal office in the November election.  To do this, Proposition 14 should be repealed, and replaced with a system that gives every voter the choice of casting a ballot for the nominee of any California recognized political party -- nominees chosen by voters in the primary election. California Republican Party delegates rightly and overwhelmingly voted to oppose Proposition 14 when it appeared on the ballot, and it's clear that opposition remains firm. Every voter in California should have the choice of voting for a Republican each November, for every state and federal office. I urge you to support every effort to repeal this failed system and restore meaningful choice in California elections. All the best,   RON NEHRING 2014 Republican nominee for Lt. Governor California Republican Party Chairman, 2007-2011

Libertarian Party Members Want to Repeal Prop 14

This is great news.

If anyone should be outraged and frustrated with Prop 14, it's the third parties.

Greens, Libertarians, and the Peace and Freedom Party among others have raised significant alarm at these destructive policies.

This Top Two primary has not created more moderate candidates, but has forced voters to select the most offensive candidates on the ballot--or not vote at all!

Here are some remarks from Libertarian Party members in response to former US Senate candidate Tom Palzer's statement about Repeal Prop 14:

There is hope in the state of California. Let us put an end to this awful Prop 14  Top Two hustle!