I’m not sure that’s really what it is saying. In a top two open primary system the top two contenders could very well be the same party and often are. I’d top two period. It’s not code for top two parties (ie Dems and Reps).
Also I’m not sure “qualified parties” are restricted to Dems and Reps. I think qualified parties are all those who get enough votes to be an official 3rd party in the state. The Libertarian Party and the Green Party have that many votes in CA, the socialists don’t.
So in conclusion it’s *a* restriction, but it’s not quite the naked rigging of Dems and Reps it appears.
I’m not sure that’s really what it is saying. In a top two open primary system the top two contenders could very well be the same party and often are. I’d top two period. It’s not code for top two parties (ie Dems and Reps).
Also I’m not sure “qualified parties” are restricted to Dems and Reps. I think qualified parties are all those who get enough votes to be an official 3rd party in the state. The Libertarian Party and the Green Party have that many votes in CA, the socialists don’t.
So in conclusion it’s *a* restriction, but it’s not quite the naked rigging of Dems and Reps it appears.
But the top two will almost certainly be drawn from the two-party monopoly, whether they are drawn from both of those parties or just one.