California set to vote on major US political shift

LOS ANGELES: California state lawmakers are set to vote on a plan that would bring forward the date it holds its presidential primary vote, a move that could jolt US politics.

The proposal would shift the date to the first Tuesday in March from June in order to “give Californians a louder voice”, according to a statement by its principal backers, state senator Ricardo Lara and assembly member Kevin Mullin.

June is at the end of the primary season, the period when voters choose presidential candidates.

This late date means that California – despite being the most populous state, an economic powerhouse – has relatively little influence in the national race.

The move would likely boost the importance of Californian politicians should they run for president, said Louis DeSipio, political science professor at the University of California in Irvine.