The "California Top Two Primary Act," known as Proposition 14, passed with surprising margins in counties across the state yesterday. The campaign for the proposition should be congratulating itself; many political observers did not see this big win coming for Prop. 14.

Under Prop. 14, voters can vote in the primary election for what used to be referred to as "partisan elections" for any candidate regardless of party affiliation of either the candidate or the voter. Candidates can even chose to not disclose their party affiliation on the ballot. For example, and admittedly at the extreme, if the Communist Party qualified as a political party in California and had a candidate running for Congress in say, Congressional District #9 (Berkeley), the candidate could chose to not disclose that significant political affiliation on the ballot.

Lawyers for both political parties will now be focusing on a legal challenge to Prop. 14. I think the fact that candidates can chose to remove information from the ballot about their party affiliation is a significant line of legal attack. It emasculates the political parties. Prop.… Read More

From today’s Wall Street Journal Political Diary E-mail…… Read More

Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley not only won the Republican nomination for Attorney General, he got his dream match-up in Kamala Harris, the uber-liberal District Attorney of San Francisco, and he will be California’s next Attorney General.

Kamala Harris is simply unelectable as Attorney General. She has the worst criminal conviction rate in the state, having barely won over 50% of her felony trials. She presides over a Sanctuary City and actually provides support and legal comfort for illegal immigrants. She is on the hot seat for failing to disclose massive negligence in the San Francisco crime lab, a failure that could result in the release of thousands of violent criminals. She opposes the death penalty. She was THE most liberal candidate in the Democrat primary, and now she is toast. (PS – How do you feel today, Chris Kelly? $10 million for a 2:1 loss. Ouch.)

Steve Cooley is certainly not a perfect candidate. He’s got big problems with his administration of the Three Strikes law, especially his office policy not to pursue a third strike unless it is a violent felony. He also authored a ballot initiative to weaken the Three Strikes law.… Read More

From today’s Wall Street Journal Political Diary Email… (yours truly is quoted)…… Read More

Tonight I will be trying to provide some analysis of election returns from the comfort of home. While the State GOP’s election night festivities are here in Orange County, I have a great reason to spend this evening with my family. Today we brought home Sophia Elizabeth from the hospital — our daughter, Sophia, was born last Friday!

So besides this blog, the best place to track my musings and observations will be on Twitter here.… Read More

Attorney General, State Senate 4, State Senate 36, State Senate 40 (hey its Democrat but a good fight and I see Vargas at the airport all the time), Assembly 25, Assembly 29, Assembly 33, Assembly 59, Assembly 63, Assembly 68, Assembly 70, Assembly 77, San Jose Seat 1, Ventura County Supervisor Seat 2, San Diego Council Seat 2, San Diego Council Seat 6, San Diego Strong Mayor.

UPDATE: barn burner in Assembly 70. One to watch. UPDATE possible upset in Assembly 77.… Read More

Update action for now is on Twitter here.

Top notes: It’s Whitman vs. Brown, Fiorina vs. Boxer.… Read More

Meg Whitman — Remarks as prepared for delivery… Thank you so much… What a great night! This victory is yours! I just received a very gracious phone call from Steve Poizner conceding the race. I want to commend Commissioner Poizner and his supporters for the energy they brought to their campaign. It has been a tough campaign, but I’m a stronger candidate tonight because of it. I’m battle-tested. … Read More