Democrats are defenders of democracy — except when they lose. Then they want to change the rules.

That’s what may happen in California.

California Democratic Party chair Rusty Hicks has decided that the state’s odd primary system — the “top two” or “jungle” primary — does not work.

That’s odd, because it has been a huge boost to Democrats — until now.

Rusty Hicks speaks at the 2026 California Democratic Party State Convention in San Francisco, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. AP

Under the “jungle” system, the parties no longer hold separate primary elections. Instead, all of the candidates are pooled into a common primary.…