Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: California's top-two primary creates twists and turns in Senate race

Republican Senate candidate and former baseball star Steve Garvey shakes hands with Rabbi Raleigh Resnick, of Pleasanton, at Chabad of the Tri Valley in Pleasanton, California, on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024.

Next week's primary election will determine whether California voters choose a new U.S. senator now, essentially, or continue the competition until November.

That's because of California's abnormal "top two" open primary system. The top two candidates who win the most votes, regardless of their party, will advance to the November election.

If it's a Democrat and a Republican who advance, it will mean that the Democrat has already virtually clinched the seat held for 30 years by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. It'll all be over except for the victory speech. There'll still be

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