Wilson Signs Bill to Put Primary Change on Ballot

Two years after Californians voted to scrap a partisan presidential primary, they now get to choose whether to bring it back.

Gov. Pete Wilson signed a bill Monday that places the measure on the Nov. 3 ballot. Changes to the primary must be approved by the Legislature, governor and voters.

In 1996, voters gave themselves the right to back any candidate in the primary for a particular office, regardless of party affiliation.

But state Sen. John Lewis (R-Orange), the author of the bill signed Monday, said California’s delegates to the Republican and Democratic conventions in 2000 could be denied seats if they are picked through a blanket primary. The bylaws of both parties prohibit the selection of delegates by a blanket primary.

“At that point, some other method would be concocted to pick delegates--caucuses, an endorsing convention or some kind of rule change,” Lewis said. “Whatever it would be, it would disenfranchise millions of Californians who expect that when voting for president, their vote matters.”

Wilson said the partisan system will preserve a role for California voters in picking White House nominees.

The blanket primary was first used statewide last month when voters picked nominees for governor, the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, Legislature and several other offices.

Lewis’ bill would retain the blanket primary for the other offices, except party central committees, which are selected on a partisan basis.

The Senate gave the bill final approval Monday morning on a 28-0 vote, adopting amendments added by the Assembly and sending the measure to Wilson.