USA TODAY International Edition
Both parties survive California primaries
WASHINGTON – As primary results trickled in Wednesday, Democrats and Republicans alike dodged disaster in California.
The state’s unusual top-two primary system — which sends the top two finishers to the general election, regardless of their party — generated fear in both parties of an electoral shutout, leaving them off the November ballot.
But California voters delivered key wins for both parties.
The Senate primary was won by two Democrats, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and state Sen. Kevin de León, who will compete in the fall.
Republican John Cox, a business executive backed by President Trump, prevailed over former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democrat, for the second slot in the state’s gubernatorial race. Cox will be up against Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat and former San Francisco mayor, who came in first in the primary.
Democratic House candidates were on track to avoid shutouts in districts key to Democrats’ chances to win majority control of the House of Representatives. “Democrats prevail, Republicans survive,” said Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College.
California was one of eight states to hold primaries Tuesday night.
The Golden State is critical to Democrats, who need a net gain of 23 seats to win control of the House. They target seven of the state’s districts held by Republicans that Hillary Clinton won in 2016.
Wednesday, Trump tweeted congratulations to Cox, hailing the “Trump impact” on the l race.
Cox picked up steam with Republicans after receiving Trump’s endorsement last month.
“So much for the big Blue Wave, it may be a big Red Wave,” Trump tweeted.
Tuesday, Newsom called Cox a “foot soldier” in Trump’s “war in California,”
The Sacramento Bee reported. They are running to replace Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown.
Feinstein took the lead in her primary. She was not endorsed by the state party and was criticized by liberal activists after she suggested she could work with the Trump administration.