California Democrats scrap December primary

California Democrats bowed to national party criticism and dropped a plan to hold a presidential primary in December. Republican Gov. George Deukmejian on Monday had called a special election on Dec. 13 for voter approval or disapproval of a plan to draw new district lines for legislative districts. Democrats had threatened to retaliate with a Democratic presidential primary on the same date to attract party members to the polls to defeat the measure.

But the plan was scrapped and the state Legislature appeared ready to end a stalemate that has left California without a budget for a record 19 days into the new fiscal year.