California primary: A big win for common sense

The results of the California primary are still trickling in, but the verdict of the voters is clear: a win for common sense.

From San Francisco to LA, from Sacramento to San Diego, voters rejected radical socialism; refused to approve tax hikes; and chose candidates who emphasized policy over partisanship.

Republican Steve Hilton beat all of his rivals in the governor’s race — and beat the polls. He went from being virtually unknown in the state to becoming the strongest opposition voice in California.

Voters approved his message and his tone, which was critical but optimistic.

Now the real work begins: shaping a campaign that can win Democrats without losing Republicans.

If anyone can do it, Steve Hilton can.

Spencer Pratt did the impossible, literally rising from the ashes of his Pacific Palisades home to force an incumbent LA mayor into a runoff for the first time in decades.

At his victory party, Pratt said that he would build a new team around him to run his campaign and to run the city.

That’s the right approach, and he needs to tap a wide range of talent.

Reach out to Rick Caruso. Talk to Adam Carolla. And not just the big names.

Pratt should bring in the “frustrated moms” that he talked about in the primary. Let them show him where the system is failing. And how to fix it.

The fact that he has a chance at all is a sign that voters are not going to accept whatever California leaders give them.

Radicals who are good at creating a lot of noise but little value lost all over the state.

Saikat Chakrabarti, the architect of the “Squad” who embraced extremist podcaster Hasan Piker, came a distant third in his race to replace Nancy Pelosi.

There are some things too crazy even for San Francisco.

Ammar Campa-Najjar, the grandson of an infamous Palestinian terrorist, and the boyfriend of mega-rich Democrat Rep. Sara Jacobs, lost so badly in a congressional primary that he declared his own career “permanently over.”

He blamed Israel for his defeat, dropping the mask of moderation and proving that voters were right to reject him.

Kevin Kiley, a former Republican who has led the fight against partisan gerrymandering, might return to Congress despite Proposition 50, which drew him into a district he supposedly couldn’t win.

Sonja Shaw, who waged a lonely battle for parental rights against Gavin Newsom on the issue of transgenderism in school, won the primary for superintendent of schools.

Traci Park, who has fought for Venice and Pacific Palisades against some of the LA City Council’s worst policies, won reelection by a landslide against a socialist challenger.

But common sense won’t stick around just because of one election. And primary elections don’t count for much.

Now is the time for Tuesday’s winners to gather their strength for the battle ahead.

They have to win.

California deserves better than what it has been getting. We can fix it, together. We know it can be done.