California’s ‘top-two’ nonpartisan primary creates election dynamics that are much different than you see in most states because, instead of candidates vying for the hearts and minds of their party-base -- all voters, including independent voters, can cast their vote for any candidate they choose.

That means, this March, some Democratic candidates will need votes from independent and Republican voters to advance to the general election in November.

Candidates talking to all voters may generally be a good thing.

Photo by Phillip Goldsberry on Unsplash

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in The Fulcrum, and has been republished on IVN with permission from the publisher. John E Palmer is chairman of Rank the Vote and a member of the board of the National Association of Nonpartisan Reformers. Photo Credit: sarowen / Flickr