California’s successful electoral reforms

A step forward.

In 2008 and 2010, California voters went to the ballot box and voted on three electoral reform measures. The reformers won all three ballots.

• Proposition 11 established the California Citizens Redistricting Commission (CCRC) and gave it the power to draw legislative districts.
• Proposition 14 established the top-two primary system.
• Proposition 20 expanded the CCRC’s mandate to include Congressional maps.

Future movie star, California governor, and election reform advocate Arnold Schwarzenegger poses for a photograph in 1974. Fun fact: In 1974, the governor of California was a Republican movie star who was succeeded by Jerry Brown. Jerry Brown also was governor after Arnold Schwarzenegger. (Image source.)

The most prominent supporter of all elements of this reform package was Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a non-traditional Republican who had been initially elected in a way that bypassed the normal primary process. As noted above, these reforms were passed into law by the voters of California directly. They did not go through the normal legislative process.

It has recently become fashionable in certain circles to claim that this reform package was an attempt by the Democratic Party to consolidate power unfairly in California. This is materially, factually, and historically false.

Proposition 11 was opposed by the California Democratic Party. Proposition 14 was opposed by basically every Californian political party. A large number of Congressional Democrats and donors lined up to support a…