Dem money floods Calif. primaries to avert electoral disaster

Outside money is flooding into a trio of key California House primaries, as Democrats try to avoid being shut out of the general election.

The total outside spending in those June 5 primary races had eclipsed more than $8 million as of Friday, according to an analysis of Federal Election Commission filings by The Hill. The high-dollar spending is in the three GOP-held seats represented by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher and retiring Reps. Darrell Issa and Ed Royce, all of which are viewed as potential pickup opportunities for Democrats.

California’s “jungle” primary system pits all candidates, regardless of party, against one another in a single primary, with the top two vote-getters moving on to the general election. Democrats fear that crowded Democratic fields will split their party's vote in some races, allowing Republicans to take both election slots.

Now outside groups are spending heavily in the races in an attempt to avert Democratic shutouts.

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/389451-dem-money-floods-calif-primaries-to-avert-electoral-disaster?userid=229233