Spirit of Independents

Many California voters have quit the major parties to register as independents since the state’s open primary law was adopted by voters in 1996. Secretary of State Bill Jones says that nearly 2 million voters, 13.5% of the total, are now registered as “decline to state,” California’s term for independents. That is an increase of more than 3% since March of 1996. Democratic ranks have declined 1.4%, Republicans by 1.8%.

In the past, some Californians who considered themselves independents probably registered as Republicans or Democrats so they could participate in primary elections. Before the open primary, only registered Democrats could vote in Democratic primaries and registered Republicans in GOP primaries. The same was true for the minor parties. Now everyone can vote for any candidate in any race.

The open primary measure was sponsored by moderate Republicans weary of seeing fellow moderates lose primary elections to ideological conservatives, only to have the GOP candidate then lose to the Democrats. An example came in 1992 when moderate Rep. Tom Campbell lost a close primary race for U.S. senator to conservative Bruce Herschensohn, who then lost in a squeaker to Democrat Barbara Boxer in the general election.

Campbell has an opportunity to test his ability to win an open primary on March 7, when he again will be on the ballot for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate to oppose Sen. Dianne Feinstein in the fall. The result will be instructive for all parties.