Don't Kill Top Two. Upgrade It: A Smarter Way to Elect California's Governor
Mar 3, 2026
Ranked choice voting in November would ensure that the winner of the California governor's race commands majority support
“Strategic withdrawal replaces open competition, leaving ordinary voters wondering why their preferred candidate disappeared under pressure. Party leaders often argue that the answer is to scrap the Top Two system and return to closed partisan primaries… Advancing the five top candidates to November would obviously expand voter choice and produce a general election featuring multiple viable contenders… Ranked choice voting in November would ensure that the winner of the California governor's race commands majority support.”
Read the full piece at https://ivn.us/posts/dont-kill-top-two-upgrade-it-a-smarter-way-to-elect-californias-governor-2026-03-03
By John E. Palmer, Chairman of the Board at Cal RCV's partner, Rank the Vote.