Cross-filing
Encyclopedia
In American
politics, cross-filing (similar to the concept of electoral fusion
) occurs when a candidate runs in the primary election
of not only his own party, but also that of one or more other parties, generally in the hope of reducing or eliminating his competition at the general election. It was in effect in California
from 1913 to 1959, when it was abolished, and has been used in other states, most significantly in New York
and New Hampshire
, where it is still in effect.
Cross-filing continues today in New York. The main candidates are usually the Democratic and Republican nominees, and the support of various independent parties is demonstrated by winning their nomination as well. For example, Republican nominees often attempt to win the nomination of the Conservative Party of New York
as well. One rare exception was in 1944, where New York Congressman Vito Marcantonio
was successful in winning both the Republican and Democratic Party primaries, assuring his re-election.
. While the California State Legislature
attempted to institute a looser test in 1911, by 1913, there was no longer any restriction on candidates filing in multiple primaries. The cross-filing provision was added to a previously debated primary bill by members of the administration of Governor Hiram Johnson
, who had previously run (on separate occasions) as a Republican
and with the Progressive Party
.
In 1917 and 1919, the legislature barred candidates who lost their own party's nomination from running as a member of any other party, and allowed the state committee of the affected party to fill any vacancies on their ticket. In combination with statutes that placed the incumbent first on the ballot and designated him by his title, these ballot rules gave a heavy advantage to incumbents.
In 1946, Governor Earl Warren
, eight other officials on the statewide ballot, twelve of the state's twenty-three members of the United States House of Representatives
, and approximately three-quarters of the members of the legislature who were running for reelection secured election winning both major primaries through cross-filing. In 1948, Congressman Richard Nixon
, facing no Republican
primary opponent, cross-filed and defeated Stephen Zetterberg
in the Democratic
primary .
In 1952, the incumbent Republican U.S. Senator, William Knowland, won the nomination of both parties - marking the low point of post-war Democratic political fortunes in California and bringing into sharp focus the results of cross-filing: Though the majority of California voters were registered Democrats, there had only been one Democratic Governor in the 20th Century and the Republicans held the majority in both houses of the Legislature, and a total of 111 out of the 162 elective, partisan offices in the state.
That same year, the Democrats, with funding from oil millionaire Edwin Pauley, organized a campaign to place an Initiative measure on the ballot to abolish cross-filing. In an attempt to defeat the initiative, the Republican-controlled Legislature proposed a competing measure, retaining cross- filing, but requiring candidates to list their party affiiation on all ballots. The Democratic initiative was defeated and the Republican measure won. But thereafter, Republicans running in a Democratic Primary would be labeled Republican - a great disadvantage in Democratic districts. This marked the beginning of the end of cross-filing.
At the same time, after the 1952 general election and the national defeat of Democratic presidential nominee Adlai Stevenson, the California Democratic Council
, a grassroots organization of Democratic Clubs, was formed by Stevenson enthusiasts, most of whom were volunteer activists rather than professional politicians, in large part to overcome the Republican Party advantage through cross-filing.
Cross-filing was finally abolished in California in 1959, after the Democrats swept to power in the 1958 election, with Pat Brown
becoming the first Democratic Governor since 1942.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politics, cross-filing (similar to the concept of electoral fusion
Electoral fusion
Electoral fusion is an arrangement where two or more political parties on a ballot list the same candidate, pooling the votes for that candidate...
) occurs when a candidate runs in the primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
of not only his own party, but also that of one or more other parties, generally in the hope of reducing or eliminating his competition at the general election. It was in effect in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
from 1913 to 1959, when it was abolished, and has been used in other states, most significantly in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, where it is still in effect.
Cross-filing continues today in New York. The main candidates are usually the Democratic and Republican nominees, and the support of various independent parties is demonstrated by winning their nomination as well. For example, Republican nominees often attempt to win the nomination of the Conservative Party of New York
Conservative Party of New York
The Conservative Party of New York State is an American political party active in the state of New York. It is not part of any nationwide party, nor is it affiliated with the American Conservative Party, which it predates by over 40 years....
as well. One rare exception was in 1944, where New York Congressman Vito Marcantonio
Vito Marcantonio
Vito Anthony Marcantonio was an American lawyer and democratic socialist politician. Originally a member of the Republican Party and a supporter of Fiorello LaGuardia, he switched to the American Labor Party.-Early life:...
was successful in winning both the Republican and Democratic Party primaries, assuring his re-election.
Cross-Filing in California Elections, 1913-1959
In 1909, California introduced the direct primary election in its elections. The state's requirement that candidates in primary elections certify that they had supported a particular party in the previous general election was struck down by the California Supreme Court in 1909, in a case involving the Socialist Party of AmericaSocialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
. While the California State Legislature
California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
attempted to institute a looser test in 1911, by 1913, there was no longer any restriction on candidates filing in multiple primaries. The cross-filing provision was added to a previously debated primary bill by members of the administration of Governor Hiram Johnson
Hiram Johnson
Hiram Warren Johnson was a leading American progressive and later isolationist politician from California; he served as the 23rd Governor from 1911 to 1917, and as a United States Senator from 1917 to 1945.-Early life:...
, who had previously run (on separate occasions) as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and with the Progressive Party
Progressive Party (United States, 1912)
The Progressive Party of 1912 was an American political party. It was formed after a split in the Republican Party between President William Howard Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt....
.
In 1917 and 1919, the legislature barred candidates who lost their own party's nomination from running as a member of any other party, and allowed the state committee of the affected party to fill any vacancies on their ticket. In combination with statutes that placed the incumbent first on the ballot and designated him by his title, these ballot rules gave a heavy advantage to incumbents.
In 1946, Governor Earl Warren
Earl Warren
Earl Warren was the 14th Chief Justice of the United States.He is known for the sweeping decisions of the Warren Court, which ended school segregation and transformed many areas of American law, especially regarding the rights of the accused, ending public-school-sponsored prayer, and requiring...
, eight other officials on the statewide ballot, twelve of the state's twenty-three members of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, and approximately three-quarters of the members of the legislature who were running for reelection secured election winning both major primaries through cross-filing. In 1948, Congressman Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
, facing no Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
primary opponent, cross-filed and defeated Stephen Zetterberg
Stephen Zetterberg
Stephen Ingersoll Zetterberg was an American attorney and Democratic activist. Zetterberg was best known for being defeated by Congressman Richard Nixon in the 1948 Democratic primary, as Nixon, having no Republican primary opposition, entered the Democratic primary to ensure he would have no...
in the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
primary .
In 1952, the incumbent Republican U.S. Senator, William Knowland, won the nomination of both parties - marking the low point of post-war Democratic political fortunes in California and bringing into sharp focus the results of cross-filing: Though the majority of California voters were registered Democrats, there had only been one Democratic Governor in the 20th Century and the Republicans held the majority in both houses of the Legislature, and a total of 111 out of the 162 elective, partisan offices in the state.
That same year, the Democrats, with funding from oil millionaire Edwin Pauley, organized a campaign to place an Initiative measure on the ballot to abolish cross-filing. In an attempt to defeat the initiative, the Republican-controlled Legislature proposed a competing measure, retaining cross- filing, but requiring candidates to list their party affiiation on all ballots. The Democratic initiative was defeated and the Republican measure won. But thereafter, Republicans running in a Democratic Primary would be labeled Republican - a great disadvantage in Democratic districts. This marked the beginning of the end of cross-filing.
At the same time, after the 1952 general election and the national defeat of Democratic presidential nominee Adlai Stevenson, the California Democratic Council
California Democratic Council
The California Democratic Council , an unofficial umbrella organization of volunteer Democratic Clubs, was founded at conferences at Asilomar and Fresno conferences in 1952-53 by future U.S. Senator Alan Cranston, State Senator George Miller, Jr...
, a grassroots organization of Democratic Clubs, was formed by Stevenson enthusiasts, most of whom were volunteer activists rather than professional politicians, in large part to overcome the Republican Party advantage through cross-filing.
Cross-filing was finally abolished in California in 1959, after the Democrats swept to power in the 1958 election, with Pat Brown
Pat Brown
Edmund Gerald "Pat" Brown, Sr. was the 32nd Governor of California, serving from 1959 to 1967, and the father of current Governor of California Jerry Brown.-Background:...
becoming the first Democratic Governor since 1942.