2016 Senate Races, Kamala Harris Versus Loretta Sanchez in California

The “jungle primary” system in California has produced an unusual Senate election for 2016: an election with two Democrats in November, Democrat Kamala Harris versus Democrat Loretta Sanchez. Longtime Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer is retiring, so there is no incumbent.

RESULTS: Kamala Harris wins 62-37. Senate results.

Before 1914, United States Senators were selected by state legislatures. The Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, and starting in 1914 the people chose federal senators in popular elections.

In 2010, with the support of former Republican Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger, voters approved a top-two primary system where the top two winners of the primary run against each other in the general election. This year, for the first time, the US Senate contest involves two Democrats. There is no Republican on the ballot.

In the June 7 primary, Kamala Harris won handily with 40.2 percent, and Loretta Sanchez came in second with 19 percent. Together, the two candidates attained a majority of 59 percent of primary voters. Both are women of “color.”

Kamala Harris is the Attorney General. Loretta Sanchez is a congresswoman.

Attorney General Kamala Harris won statewide election for her current position in 2010, and won re-election. In her current position, Kamala Harris has provided extensive guidance to those doing business in California about the privacy laws and “best practices.” Kamala Harris has also issued some cracking down against businesses that were out of compliance after warning them.

Kamala Harris has endorsements of key establishment Democrats, including governor Jerry Brown and Barrack Obama. Kamala Harris also has far more money, with $12,321,556 raised. Loretta Sanchez trails in the election money, with $3,718,546 total raised.

In Congress since the nineties, Loretta Sanchez voted against the Patriot Act, the 2003 Iraq action, and the bank bailout. Each of these Republican-promoted bills received significant Democratic support. Regardless of these votes, Loretta Sanchez is a member of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.

Both candidates oppose the current version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) “free” trade agreement.

While Kamala Harris has the big money and establishment endorsements, Loretta Sanchez has not been connected with the Bernie Sanders inspired groups Our Revolution or the Berniecrats. She has neither endorsed these two groups nor have they endorsed her.

THE TOP-TWO SYSTEM

The 2016 California Senate election is the first national major test of the “top-two” system, put in place by 2010 California Proposition 14, approved by a slim majority of the voters. Compare New York State which still uses the old system. On the new system the jury is out, but one thing is true for either method: in deep blue or deep red states, primaries are of great importance.

(featured picture came from an earlier debate with the top candidates before the primary)