But, from a March 6th AP article in the SD Union-Tribune Democrat-dominated Legislature may become still more liberal
Republicans, meanwhile, largely elected conservatives rather than moderates for their seats, despite fund-raising efforts by some in the party to support more centrist candidates.The article gives other examples of conservatives winning the Republican nominations, and liberals winning the Democrat nominations. The article expects the general election to be more polarized with fewer moderate candidates, but it also predicts that the legislature will become more liberal overall (by assuming the dems win).
The New Majority PAC, moderate Republicans who offered financial support to at least three candidates, lost all three contests.
...
In November, [liberal Democrat Nicole] Parra will face a conservative Republican businessman, Dean Gardner, who defeated moderate Republican Jerry Salazar 66 to 34 percent on Tuesday.
Salazar had received a $12,000 assist from the New Majority PAC of moderate Republicans seeking to push their party toward the political center.
Another moderate candidate backed by the PAC, Assemblyman Richard Dickerson, R-Redding, lost his bid for a Senate nomination to conservative Assemblyman Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley. Aanestad received 56 percent of the vote to Dickerson's 44 percent.