Top-two primary
Definition
A top-two primary puts every candidate for an office on one ballot, regardless of party. All voters, regardless of their own registration, choose among all of them. The top two vote-getters advance to the general election, even if both belong to the same party.
Why it matters
Top-two changes who a general-election voter can actually choose between, sometimes leaving only two candidates from the same party on the November ballot. Supporters argue it weakens party gatekeeping, while critics note it can still let a well-funded frontrunner box out a crowded field.
Seen in the wild
California adopted top-two through Proposition 14 in June 2010, passing 53.7% to 46.3%.1 Its March 5, 2024 primary again produced multiple U.S. House and legislative races where both November finalists were from the same party.2