The State - News from Dec. 11, 1988

With new-found support from Gov. George Deukmejian, Assembly Republican leader Ross Johnson of La Habra introduced legislation to move the presidential primary from June to February. Johnson’s bill would set the primary on the third Tuesday of February before the “Super Tuesday” primaries that take place in March. Johnson carried similar legislation previously, but it failed, primarily because of opposition from the Republican governor. Democrats have generally supported advancing the primary date. Late last month, Deukmejian reversed his stance, saying he believed the proposal has wide public support. “Our June primary is held so late in the process that many of the potential nominees have already been eliminated by the first Tuesday in June,” Johnson said.