‘Hoisted with their own petard’: California Dems’ open-primary scheme comes back to bite them
Democrats in California installed a brutal open primary system some years ago in elections for governor. Everyone lines up in the primary and the top two vote-getters fight for the office in a runoff.
A report at Revolver News explains the Democrats intended to sideline the GOP entirely, as the leftists assumed they likely would have to top two candidates every time.
Talk about being an example of Shakepeare’s saying, “Hoisted with his own petard,” which comes from “Hamlet” and literally originally meant that a bomb-maker was blown up with his own bomb.
It’s used these days to refer to an ironic reversal in which “one is taken down by own’s own scheme.”
That open primary system right now has two Republicans leading the entire field.
New – California governor primary
Hilton 17%
Bianco 16%
Swalwell 13%
Porter 13%
Steyer 10%
Becerra 5%Top 2 go for a runoff
Barkley #B – RV – 3/14 pic.twitter.com/Hfg6WiVV11
— Political Polls (@PpollingNumbers) March 18, 2026
The absolutely most hilarious thing might be about to happen. A while back, California democrats instituted a top-two primary system, assuming that it would always be two democrats in the general. https://t.co/ctdVpEiljW
— Jay Fivekiller (@JayFivekiller) March 18, 2026
Of course there remains some time before the primary, and even more until the general election, but the New York Post noted:
“California Democrats were warned to get their act together months ago. Back off, consolidate, pick a front-runner or risk splitting the vote. They ignored the advice. Now the numbers are in and the results are brutal. A new UC Berkeley-LA Times poll shows the 2026 race for governor is a total mess for Democrats. Support is scattered across a crowded field while Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco have quietly pulled ahead.”
The report continued, “The data tells the story. Not a single Democrat tops 13% while the GOP contenders sit in the high teens. 16% of voters remain undecided leaving the door wide open for a historic upset.”
It means, the report said, “Democrats risk being completely shut out of November if they cannot consolidate.”
Revolver commented, “Cali Dems thought they had everything all figured out. They had a plan, and it was working like a finely oiled machine. Until it suddenly wasn’t.”
It said, “Dems have flooded the field with garbage candidates, and now the votes are splitting every which way but loose. Meanwhile, Republicans are quietly holding steady. And now, that very system Dems designed to protect themselves and keep control is starting to turn on them.”
California will have a Republican governor whatever Democrats do.
We’ll have a Republican governor even if I face a Democrat in the general election. (And that’s what will happen once the unions pick their puppet.)
I’ll be the next governor because this state is sick of the… https://t.co/pIOLUEouWa
— Steve Hilton (@SteveHiltonx) March 9, 2026
‘ ‘ .
This one requires a brief explanation of how California elections work. The state uses a jungle primary…
— M.A. Rothman (@MichaelARothman) March 19, 2026
NEW: Democrats leaders tried to get fellow Democrat candidates to drop out of the California Governor race to give their leading candidates a batter chance and they ALL REFUSED!
“Well it is official — there are now 10 major figures running for California governor — It comes days… pic.twitter.com/riiSpldgtO
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) March 9, 2026
One example of Democrats’ recent accomplishments for voters in the state:
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s $236 million program to help those with severe mental illness who bounce between homelessness and jail has helped a measly 22 people since the its launch in 2022, a new report reveals.
Newsom’s CARE Court was billed as a “completely new… pic.twitter.com/RbirxCQM1r— MaggieWise (@maggiewise111) March 12, 2026
Revolver said, for the Republicans, they’ve got Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, “who are both tapping into something California voters haven’t really been offered in a while.”
“Hilton brings a more polished, policy-driven approach that appeals to voters tired of the same old Sacramento hooey. Bianco, as a law-and-order sheriff, connects with people who feel like basic public safety has been slipping, which it has. Different styles, but both of these R’s are hitting nerves that Dems struggle with.”