The Arizona Latino Republican Association, the largest conservative Latino organization in the state, has announced its opposition to the “jungle” or “top 2” primary system. ALRA submtted their formal statement of opposition to be included in the information booklet sent to all voters in the state.
“If approved this primary system would not only replicate the low voter turnout seen in California when the first instituted a system of this type, but repress the Latino vote and Latino candidates from coming forward to represent their communities,” said Reymundo Torres, ALRA’s state president. “In short this is a power grab by Democrats in a state where they don’t have the numbers to win honestly. They are attempting to steal the state which they cannot earn in a legitimate election and therefore have to create new ways of manipulating the outcomes of elections.”
“People support the jungle primary system in the name of progress for our State,” said ALRA Tucson chapter president Pat Sexton. “However, if the jungle primary system is adopted, progressives will simply be regressing Arizona 100 years.”
The organization took an early lead in” the struggle to save our system of candidate evaluation and selection” from what they say are the “ravages of the the top 2 primary system.”
ALRA releasd its opposition statment today:
“Top 2” Primary: Harmful To The Future Of Arizona’s Electoral Process
If passed, the “Top 2” Primary will adversely and irreparably alter Arizona’s electoral process to the detriment of the citizens of our state.
It will limit choices. Under the current system, political parties are free to field as many candidates as they wish with the understanding that only one of them will proceed to the general election. Under the new system, only one candidate will be nominated for fear that support would be split preventing any of their candidates from making it to the general. This will effectively exclude a significant amount of potential candidates from seeking public office which will leave voters with fewer options when selecting their representatives.
It will hurt ethnic minorities. Under the current system, Arizona’s ethnic minority voters may join whatever party best represents their political leanings, thus assuring representation in the general election. Under the proposed system, minority voters will be at a disadvantage when trying to advance their candidate of choice to the top two. In Arizona, the effect will be an institutionalized suppression of Latino candidates and votes.
It will decrease voter turnout. As we saw the “Top 2” Primary dramatically reduce voter efficacy in California, it has been proven that this system yields a remarkably lower turnout. This makes logical sense as the first and second finishers are likely to have similar or even indiscernible political platforms. With no significant policy or philosophically based differences between the two candidates, the desire of voters to participate in the general election will be considerably diminished.