One Of The Biggest Problems In California Government

From the major Sacramento newspaper:

In California, state lawmakers rarely face contested re-elections, especially from a fellow Democrat or Republican. Not since 1996 has a member of the Legislature seeking re-election been defeated in a primary...

The last time a sitting lawmaker was defeated by a fellow party member, former Assemblyman Brian Setencich of Fresno lost the Republican primary because his association with Democratic Assembly Speaker Willie Brown angered party faithful.