California's top election official and a state senator want voters in the Golden State to have a bigger say in presidential elections by moving up the state's presidential primary to the third Tuesday in March.
State Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) is sponsoring legislation that would make California’s presidential primary third in the nation, after Iowa and New Hampshire. Currently, the state holds primary elections in June, making it among the last of the states to influence who wins the Republican and Democratic nominations.
Secretary of State Alex Padilla said the change would give California's 19.4 million registered voters a chance to actually hear from presidential candidates, who often use the Golden State as a fundraising stop but don't spend time campaigning here.
“A state as populous and diverse as California should not be an afterthought," he said. "Moving up the California primary in 2020 makes sense and will give California voters a more significant role. By holding our primary earlier, we will ensure that issues important to Californians are prioritized by presidential candidates from all political parties."