Fresh from watching yet another meltdown in California (“the ungovernable state”), the folks at influential Economist magazine are singing the praises of “sensible” Washington state. 

A piece in the latest edition touts “remarkably moderate politics” and can-do state government, and suggests that our tradition of ticket-splitting,  independence and the Top 2 primary could be an explanation. “You do tend to get people who fit the centre [that’s Brit for center, people] of the electorate” by advancing the two most popular candidates to the General Election, with no party guaranteed a runoff spot, Secretary of State Sam Reed says in the piece. 

Washington voters do not register by party and candidates only express their partisan preference. The primary is no longer a nominating process, but a way to winnow the field to the voters’ two faves for each office.

Writer Andreas Kluth recently visited the state and talked with Reed, former Governor Dan Evans, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, Attorney General Rob McKenna, pollster Stuart Elway and others. In addition to lauding the election system, he says

“Washington passes its budgets on time. Districts are drawn in a neutral process. Party machines are weak, heresy condoned.”

Kluth’s s piece says the Top 2 system, created by the voters in 2004 and authorized by the U.S. Supreme Court last year, looks promising, and that California is right to be considering a Top 2 initiative. 

His subversive little kicker:

“Maybe the country should, too.”