Before we dove into California politics this week, we acknowledged something much bigger: the beginning of the U.S.–Israel war against the Iranian regime.
It’s possible to hold more than one truth at the same time. You can oppose war and still be glad that the Iranian people are one tyrant further away from authoritarian rule. The world is complicated right now.
And speaking of complicated…
This week’s episode focuses on the California governor’s race — and specifically, the unintended consequences of our state’s Top Two Open Primary system.
Back in 2011, California adopted a system where all candidates appear on the same primary ballot (for many, but not all elected positions), and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election, regardless of party. At the time, most people assumed we might occasionally see two Democrats advance in our heavily blue state.
What we didn’t anticipate? A scenario where nine Democrats split the vote while two Republicans consolidate theirs — making it possible that two Republicans could end up on the November ballot.
That possibility isn’t just theoretical. It’s being modeled at roughly a 10–15% likelihood right now.
And that’s where things get concerning.
Because this isn’t only about who becomes governor. It’s about turnout. If Democratic voters feel shut out of the top race in November, some may stay home. Meanwhile, energized Republican voters could turn out in higher numbers. That shift could ripple down-ballot and affect competitive congressional races — with national consequences.
So what do we do with that information?
In this episode, we talk through:
* The crowded Democratic field.
* The role of name recognition versus executive experience.
* The strengths and weaknesses of candidates like Katie Porter and Eric Swalwell.
* The quieter resumes of candidates like Betty Yee, Xavier Becerra, and former mayors.
* The influence of money and media visibility.
* And the tension between idealism and pragmatism.
Should lower-polling candidates step aside to consolidate support?Should voters rally early around a viable front-runner?Or should we ignore polling and back the person we believe would govern best?
There are no easy answers.
What we do know is this: we have time before the June primary. And we, as voters, aren’t powerless. We can research. We can discuss. We can think strategically.
And in the meantime, there are concrete actions we can take:
* Double-check your voter registration.
* Visit 5calls.org to make targeted calls.
* Mark March 28th on your calendar for the next No Kings Day protest.
* Send postcards in key judicial races.
* Shop small and local when you can.
Democracy isn’t just about election day. It’s about showing up consistently.
We close, as always, with joyful moments — including beautiful February weather, upcoming visits to New York, and of course… Tucci the cat, who continues to be the most reliable source of delight in our household.
If you care about California’s future — and how state-level politics shapes national outcomes — this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.📩 Email us at hello@acouplethinks.com📝 Take our listener survey at survey.acouplethinks.com
Tucci is taking this Governor’s race very seriously…
