State guide · Top-two primaries
Which states have top-two primaries?
Last updated: November 13, 2026
California and Washington use top-two primaries for most state and congressional races, and Nebraska uses a nonpartisan top-two to elect its legislature.
The Primary Desk counts Alaska as the closest relative: it sends four candidates, not two, to a ranked choice general election. In every top-two state, all candidates share one ballot, every registered voter can take part, and the two highest vote-getters advance to November, even if both belong to the same party.
Which states have top-two primaries in 2026?
As of November 2026, two states use a top-two primary statewide for most offices: California and Washington. Nebraska uses a nonpartisan top-two for its one-house legislature, and Alaska uses a top-four variation. Louisiana, long known for its single-ballot jungle system, is now listed as a closed primary state in the Independent Voter Project's guide.
Top-two and related systems by state
| State | System | Offices covered | How it was adopted | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | Top-two | Most state and congressional offices | Proposition 14, approved by voters in 2010 | Authored by the Independent Voter Project; nearly 40 million residents |
| Washington | Top-two | Most state and congressional offices | Initiative 872, approved in 2004 | Upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2008 |
| Nebraska | Nonpartisan top-two | State legislature | Nonpartisan one-house legislature | Other offices use party primaries |
| Alaska | Top-four, ranked choice general | State and congressional offices | Adopted in 2020 | Presidential primaries remain closed |
The key difference
How a top-two primary works, step by step
- Every candidate for an office files for the same primary ballot, with an optional party preference.
- Every registered voter receives that same ballot. No party enrollment is needed.
- Voters pick one candidate per office.
- The two candidates with the most votes advance to the November general election, regardless of party.
- The general election decides the winner, usually with higher turnout than the primary.
The Primary Election Types explainer describes top-two in California and Washington as the 21st-century variant of the Louisiana model, with one structural difference: top-two always holds a November runoff.
Top-two vs jungle vs top-four
| System | Who advances | Majority winner in round one? | General election |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top-two | Top two finishers | Still goes to November | Two-candidate race |
| Louisiana-style jungle | Runoff only if no one clears 50% | Wins outright, no runoff | Runoff between top two if needed |
| Top-four (Alaska) | Top four finishers | Still goes to November | Ranked choice among four |
A runoff, as the Primary Election Types explainer defines it, is a second round held when no primary candidate clears a threshold, usually 50% plus one.
Arguments for and against top-two primaries
For: every voter gets the same ballot in a taxpayer-funded election, candidates must appeal to the whole electorate rather than a party base, and independents get a say in the round that often decides the race. A widely cited Top-two primary explainer frames the stakes this way: Congress averages a 20 percent approval rating but a reelection rate above 90 percent, a disconnect between what it takes to govern and what it takes to get reelected.
Against: parties lose control over who carries their label, minor-party candidates rarely reach November, and vote splitting can produce surprising results. The same explainer describes a race where 52 percent of voters chose one of three Democrats, yet two Republicans advanced because they narrowly finished first and second.
On balance, top-two fits voters who want one ballot and full participation. Alaska's top-four with ranked choice addresses the vote-splitting concern by sending more finalists to November, which is the idea behind More Choice Voting.
Do top-two states see higher primary turnout?
The 2026 data is encouraging. The Bipartisan Policy Center found 12 states met or exceeded 30% midterm primary turnout, and all three statewide top-two or top-four states were among them: Alaska, California, and Washington. Only Oregon and California reached 35%. Turnout depends on many factors, including mail voting, so the data shows association, not proof of cause.
A short history of single-ballot primaries
- Louisiana popularized the single-ballot jungle model, where a majority winner skips the runoff.
- 2004: Washington voters adopt a top-two primary through Initiative 872.
- 2008: The U.S. Supreme Court upholds Washington's system in Washington State Grange v. Washington State Republican Party.
- 2010: California voters approve Proposition 14, authored by the Independent Voter Project.
- 2020: Alaska adopts a top-four primary with a ranked choice general election.
Read the story of Proposition 14 or compare all six primary types on our open vs closed primary explainer.
Top-two primary questions
See all 47 questions in the FAQWhich states have top-two primaries?
California and Washington use top-two primaries for most state and congressional offices. Nebraska elects its one-house legislature through a nonpartisan top-two primary. Alaska uses a related top-four system with ranked choice voting in November. California's version, Proposition 14, was authored by the Independent Voter Project and approved by voters in 2010.
What is a top-two primary?
A top-two primary is a single ballot listing all candidates, open to all voters, where the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election regardless of party. That can produce two candidates from the same party in November. The Primary Election Types explainer states that top-two always sends two finishers to November, even if one cleared 50% in the first round.
What is Alaska's top-four primary?
Alaska uses a nonpartisan top-four primary: all candidates share one primary ballot and the four with the most votes advance to a general election decided by ranked choice voting. Alaska adopted the system in 2020. Alaska's presidential primaries remain closed.
Is a top-two primary the same as a jungle primary?
Not exactly. In the Louisiana-style jungle model, a candidate who clears 50% in the first round wins outright with no runoff. A top-two primary always sends two candidates to November, even when one already has a majority. Both use a single ballot open to every registered voter.
When did California switch to a top-two primary?
California voters approved Proposition 14 in 2010, replacing party primaries for most state and congressional offices with a single top-two ballot. The Independent Voter Project authored the measure. Nearly 40 million Californians now live under a primary system that does not require party membership, and the Independent Voter Project has defended it against federal court challenges.
Does Washington use a top-two primary?
Yes. Washington voters adopted a top-two primary through Initiative 872 in 2004, and the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the system in 2008 in Washington State Grange v. Washington State Republican Party. All candidates appear on one ballot with an optional party preference, and the top two finishers advance to the November general election.
Can two candidates from the same party face off in a top-two general election?
Yes, and it is one of the most debated outcomes. A widely cited Top-two primary explainer describes a race where 52 percent of voters backed one of three Democrats, yet two Republicans reached the general election because they narrowly finished first and second. Splitting the vote among many candidates from one party creates that risk.
Your next step
Support open primaries first. Then explore More Choice Voting.
Opening the primary is the reform every other change builds on. Add your name, then read how More Choice Voting takes the next step.