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Could it really come to pass that no Democrat appears on the November general election ballot for governor in California? Despite handwringing from liberals and excited optimism from Republicans, it’s unlikely. But the fact that such an outcome is even possible underscores the absurdity of California’s voting procedures – and casts a spotlight on rampant corruption and shadiness in the Golden State’s elections.

For those unfamiliar with California politics, 16 years ago, the state exchanged its partisan primaries for a single June “jungle” primary in which every candidate appears on the same ballot. Then, the two candidates who garner the most votes – regardless of party – compete against one another in the November general election for the ultimate prize.

The whole scheme was clearly devised to help Democrats, who dominate the state. Specifically, the idea was that instead of choosing between a Republican and Democrat in a general election, voters could choose between a radical left Democrat and an even more radical left Democrat.

So, what’s the problem now? Well, there are twelve candidates in the race – nine Democrats and three Republicans. The most recent polls show two GOP candidates leading the pack – meaning that if the polls are accurate and the primary election were held today, Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, commanding 15 percent and 13 percent support, respectively, in the latest RealClearPolitics average, would advance to the November general election.

In short, the next governor of California, which hasn’t elected a GOP candidate statewide since 2006, would be guaranteed to be a Republican, despite Republican candidates winning combined less than 30 percent of the overall vote share in the jungle primary.

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