Glossary
Top-two primary
A primary in which all candidates appear on one ballot and the two with the most votes, regardless of party, advance to the general election.
Also called: jungle primary, nonpartisan blanket primary, top-two
A top-two primary, sometimes called a jungle primary, puts all candidates for an office on a single ballot, regardless of party. Every voter may vote for any candidate, and the two top vote-getters advance to the general election, even if they belong to the same party.
California and Washington use this system for most state and congressional contests, and Louisiana has used a related system in which a candidate who wins a majority wins outright (Louisiana moved to closed primaries for Congress starting in 2026). Nebraska uses it for its officially nonpartisan state legislature. The Supreme Court upheld Washington's version in Washington State Grange v. Washington State Republican Party (2008).
Supporters argue it gives independent voters equal access and encourages candidates to appeal to a broad electorate. Critics point out that it can shut out minor parties, produce two candidates of the same party and, in a crowded field, allow a party with a split vote to lose both slots. Party leaders sometimes complain that they lose control of the label on the ballot. Compare the open primary, closed primary and a runoff election.
Last reviewed November 8, 2026