Republicans top splintered Democratic fields in state races Play

The pattern last night was Democrats winning, but splitting their votes in the primary.

In election after election, we see a Republican candidate win the first round and numerous Democrats splintering the vote for second place. But in the fall, the past pattern has been for the Democrats to consolidate and wipe out the Republicans.

There were two Republican candidates aiming for the vacant state senate seat from Malibu and western Los Angeles. The eight Democrats together got 67 percent. The top two finishers were Republican Rick Marshall with 20 percent of the vote, and Democrat Brian Goldsmith with 19 percent. Malibu resident Sion Roy missed hitting the general election's two spots. He got 13 percent.

Same pattern statewide, as a very conservative Trump ally is currently out ahead in the race to become the state Superintendent of Public Instruction. Sonja Shaw, a member of the school board in Chino Valley, consolidated MAGA support to win 25 percent of the vote. Richard Barrera, a member of the school board in far more liberal San Diego, got 19 percent.

That race is nonpartisan — no party identification. But liberal candidates outperformed conservatives there by a 2-to-1 margin.