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A good deal of thought went into the top-two nonpartisan primary system that was approved by California voters in 2010. It passed with the support of some high-profile politicians (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and no shortage of academics. The idea was that an open primary in June with the top two finishers — regardless of party — facing off in November would take the partisanship out of elections.

But if history has shown anything, it’s that it is difficult to predict how so-called electoral reforms might play out. That is especially true if the unexpected happens.

So it was that on Tuesday, Representative Duncan Hunter, a Republican seeking re-election in Southern California, was indicted along with his wife on charges of misusing $250,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses.

In a year when Democrats are making an all-out assault on Republican-held congressional seats in California, Mr. Hunter was viewed as one of the longer-shot targets — unless he was indicted (it was known that he was under investigation). His opponent is Ammar Campa-Najjar, 28, who worked in Barack Obama’s White House and is making his first bid for major office.