Democratic heavy hitters from Bernie Sanders to Joe Biden have all gone to Oregon to stump for Tina Kotek, who is in a too-close-for-comfort governor’s race against not only a Republican, but an independent candidate polling in the double digits. As one liberal strategist said, the major question in the race is: Will Democrats “come home to the party in the end”?

While nonaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson appears to be third in polling, her candidacy reflects a breakthrough in a state where the two major political parties have near total control over who appears on the November ballot, the editorial board writes. While Democrats are casting her as a spoiler candidate, they – and Republicans – should recognize that it's long past time to open up their primaries and give 41% of Oregon voters a greater say in who their top candidates are.