Smart @WaPoVanessa story on how the end of the GOP primary could decimate turnout in CA — a jungle primary state. https://t.co/RNfGmWwIVO
— daveweigel (@daveweigel) May 6, 2016
One side effect of Donald Trump’s securing the GOP presidential nod: Republicans might no longer turn out to vote for their House and Senate candidates in the remaining congressional primaries.
The down-ballot effect could be especially pronounced in California’s June 7 Senate primary, where Democrats and Republicans will be on the same ballot in the race to replace retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer (D). The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, will advance to the general election....
“At this point in time, it’s increasingly likely that we will see a Democrat on Democrat runoff,” said Mike Madrid, a Republican political consultant based in California....
Polls have consistently shown Harris leading the California race, with one out this week putting her support at 29 percent, followed by Sanchez with 18 percent.
The next closest competitor is Republican Tom Del Becarro, a former chairman of the California Republican Party, who drew 10 percent support in the KABC/Survey USA poll. Close on his heels are Ron Unz, a Republican activist with 8 percent and Duf Sundheim, a former state party chairman, with 7 percent.
The poll, which was released Monday, before Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich dropped out of the presidential race, noted that a competitive presidential primary might have boosted Republican turnout and given one of the Republicans a shot at overtaking Sanchez....
The California Republican Party held its convention last weekend, drawing hundreds of members to hear the three presidential candidates make their pitches. But on Sunday, only a few dozen people showed up to hear Del Becarro, Sundheim and Unz speak.
Del Becarro and Sundheim said they believe that Republican voters will still show up for the primary.
