The State : Nonpartisan Races at Issue

A state constitutional amendment barring political parties in California from supporting or opposing candidates in election races where candidates run without party labels will appear on the June ballot. The proposal, which passed the Assembly last August, was approved by the Senate 31 to 6, despite criticism that it would violate federal constitutional guarantees of free speech. The amendment was offered in response to a state Supreme Court ruling that said nothing in the California Constitution or state law prohibits political parties from taking positions in nonpartisan campaigns.