Ranked choice voting could have saved Democrats from their governor's race mess
20 mar 2026
Ranked-choice voting emerges as a solution to California's 2026 governor's race, where vote-splitting among Democrats could allow two Republicans to advance to the November runoff.
With eight Democrats splitting the vote in California's 2026 gubernatorial primary, two Republicans currently lead in the polls, potentially locking Democrats out of the November runoff entirely. LA Times reporter James Rainey argues that ranked-choice voting — already used in San Francisco, Oakland, Alaska, and elsewhere — would prevent this kind of outcome by letting voters rank candidates, ensuring the most broadly supported candidates advance regardless of how crowded the field gets.
Full Article: Ranked choice voting could have saved Democrats from their governor's race mess