Yes, but, given rational decisions by marginal Democratic candidates not to run in the first place, that runoff – and the risk it entails – would not have been necessary.
You just can't expect candidates not to run for open seats. It's like musical or sports competitions. The only reasonable thing to fault candidates for is if they attack fellow Democrats in injurious ways or act sullen after being knocked out, instead of giving the runoff candidate their wholehearted endorsement.
Still, isn't Ortiz Jones favored to win the runoff?
Yes, but, given rational decisions by marginal Democratic candidates not to run in the first place, that runoff – and the risk it entails – would not have been necessary.
You just can't expect candidates not to run for open seats. It's like musical or sports competitions. The only reasonable thing to fault candidates for is if they attack fellow Democrats in injurious ways or act sullen after being knocked out, instead of giving the runoff candidate their wholehearted endorsement.