A federal judge, in an amusing ruling Tuesday that took note that “many trees have died” in the ongoing court battle over Washington’s Top 2 primary system, has refused to toss the Top 2 primary system, but is allowing the political parties to continue their quest for some fine-tuning.
The parties have hated the Top 2 system ever since voters approved it in 2004 and the U.S. Supreme Court upheld it in 2008. Top 2 allows voters’ two favorite candidates for each office to advance to the November General Election. It’s no longer a nominating system that sends each party’s winner forward. It’s a winnowing election. Parties don’t like that, particularly since they aren’t guaranteed a runoff spot, because unaffiliated voters are welcome to take part in the primary, and because candidates declare their own party preference when they file for office. (more)
