California ballot initiative proposed for 2028 to repeal the top-two primary system
On May 8, Steve Maviglio, a Democratic political consultant and strategist known for his work on California ballot measure campaigns, filed an initiative for the 2028 ballot proposing to repeal the state’s top-two primary system. California adopted the system when voters approved Proposition 14, 53.7% to 46.3% in June 2010.
The top-two system requires all candidates to be listed on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation. The top two vote-getters advance to the general election. This makes it possible for two candidates of the same political party to win a top-two primary and face off in the general election. California is one of three states, including Alaska and Washington, that use a top-two style primary, or a variation of one, for all congressional and statewide elections.
Maviglio’s proposed constitutional amendment would authorize partisan primaries for congressional and state offices and allow any political party that holds a partisan primary to advance the top vote-getters from that primary to the general election.
To qualify for the ballot, the initiative campaign needs to collect signatures equal to 8% of the votes cast at the 2026 gubernatorial election. State law currently requires ballot initiatives to appear on general election ballots. If adopted in 2028, it would be used in the 2030 primaries.
Nine states are holding public utility commission elections this year
Republicans have majorities on all nine of the public utility commissions directly on the ballot this year. These states are Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.
Of the nine states holding direct elections this year, Georgia and Louisiana are the only ones in which the commission’s partisan control could change.
Republicans currently have a 3-2 majority on the Georgia Public Service Commission. Democrats need to retain control of the District 3 seat and gain control of the District 5 seat to win control of the commission. Republicans need to either gain control of the District 3 seat or retain control of the District 5 seat to retain a majority.
Louisiana is the only other of the nine states with a Democrat on its commission. Republicans currently have a 3-2 majority on the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Democrats need to retain control of the District 5 seat and gain control of the District 1 seat to win control of the commission. Republicans need to either gain control of the District 5 seat or retain control of the District 1 seat to retain a majority.
Louisiana becomes the first state to certify a measure for the 2027 ballot
On May 6, the Louisiana Legislature approved the Louisiana Supreme Court Jurisdiction for Lawyer Disciplinary Proceedings Amendment, making it the first measure to make the ballot in any state for 2027. This marks the second-earliest that a measure has been certified for an odd-numbered-year ballot since 2010.
The amendment, regarding the Louisiana Supreme Court's authority over disciplinary proceedings against attorneys from other jurisdictions, will appear on the April 17, 2027, statewide primary election ballot.
The earliest certification for an odd-numbered year ballot since 2010 happened on April 15, 2016, when the Maine Legislature certified Maine Question 1.
Odd-numbered years typically have fewer measures on statewide ballots than even-numbered years. From 2011 to 2025, an average of 33 statewide measures appeared on odd-numbered-year ballots. From 2010 to 2024, an average of 161 statewide measures appeared on even-numbered-year ballots.