Top-Two Primary Changes Washington's Political Landscape

WASHINGTON  ELECTIONS  ELECTIONS 

By Austin Jenkins

Olympia, WA  August 20, 2008 12:44 a.m.

Washington State's political landscape changed overnight. For the first time, candidates from the same political party will face off in the general election.

That's because of the state's new top-two primary – where the top vote getters advance to the November ballot regardless of party affiliation. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins has this analysis.

Come November Washington State voters will have a stark choice for governor.

Democratic incumbent Chris Gregoire or Republican challenger Dino Rossi. It's a rematch from four years ago. But further down the ballot, some voters in places like King and Pierce counties and in far Northeastern Washington will find legislative races where both candidates are Democrats or Republicans.

For instance, in Seattle's 36th legislative district, it appears voters will choose from two Democrats - John Burbank and Rueven Carlyle. That's because the Democrats were the top voter getters.

Carlyle thinks voters will benefit from this intra-party battle to the finish line.

Rueven Carlyle: "A healthy, vigorous debate in the general election between an old style Democratic pol and a new generation of political focused leadership is a very healthy thing and everybody wins."

His opponent Burbank seems to agree.

John Burbank: "It will enable us to sharpen our discussion and enable the voters to discern which person best represents their issues and their values in Olympia."

Washington voters generally seem pleased with the new top-two system. Once again it allows them to zigzag across the primary ballot voting for any combination of candidates and parties.

For the last few years, voters have had to pick a party ballot and vote only for those candidates. That didn't sit well with Seattle voter Randy Novack.

Randy Novack: "From my family's perspective they always believe you should be voting for the right person anyway not necessarily a specific party. So for my family we've had a lot of discussions leading up to today and it's been a good thing."

The political parties though continue to question the legality of the top-two and say voters may have gained choice in the primary, but will now lose it in the general.

Luke Esser is chair of the Washington State Republican Party.

Luke Esser: "I think competition is healthy in the political process and if we start having a lot of two Democrats on the general election ballot here and two Republicans on the general election ballot there then we're just picking which flavor of vanilla we like the most. French vanilla or vanilla bean and I think that really deprives the voters of a meaningful debate and choice."

Based on early primary election results, it appears it will still be the rare race where two candidates from the same party advance.

In most cases, one Democrat and one Republican will still appear on the ballot. But Democratic Party Chair Dwight Pelz notes that under the top-two system third party candidates are much less likely to appear on the general election ballot.

Dwight Pelz: "Voters have always been able to go to the general election and generally be able to choose between a Democrat and a Republican and some minor parties. And that is no longer the case. In many cases, they'll only have one party to choose from and we think it limits our democracy rather than expanding it."

This new political equation may put the political parties in a pickle – trying to decide which candidate to endorse in a race. But there could also be an upside says David Domke, a University of Washington professor who studies political rhetoric. He says politics could get a bit more civil in Washington State.

David Domke: "Usually Republican and Democratic candidates emerge from these primaries and then say mean things about each other and tear each other down – often, not always, but often. Maybe that will change if you have two candidates emerge from the primary from same party."

Of course if the political parties get their way, the top two will be a one election wonder. The parties continue to pursue federal court challenges to this new way of voting in Washington State
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