Listen "Beyond the Viral Katie Porter Clip: What California’s Governor Race Says About Voter Choice"
Episode Synopsis
Hosts Chad Peace and Cara McCormick use the viral Katie Porter clip as a case study in how election rules shape campaigns and coalitions in California. They unpack why the moment struck a nerve, then explain the incentives of the Top Two primary and what a Final Five model - with an open top-five primary and a ranked-choice general - could change, drawing lessons from Alaska. Along the way, they note recent shifts in the 2026 field and connect the conversation to a timely Supreme Court fight over counting properly postmarked mail ballots after Election Day - clear, voter-first context beyond the outrage cycle. Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at IVN.us and olasmedia.com. Chapters:00:00:00 – Welcome to the Independent Voter Podcast 00:01:37 – California Governor’s Race and Katie Porter Interview 00:05:18 – Expanding Top-Two to Top-Five Elections 00:09:26 – Party Division and Candidate Behavior 00:11:11 – National Guard, Governors, and Political Power Plays 00:12:33 – Origins of Ranked-Choice Voting Advocacy 00:18:17 – Supreme Court Cases and Independent Voter Rights 00:29:04 – California’s Prop 50 and the State of Democracy 00:33:26 – Closing Reflections and Call to Action See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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