Andrew Yang says the two-party system fuels extremism
Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang is harshly criticizing America’s two-party political system and closed-party primaries, arguing that they help fuel extremist views on both sides.
New York Times: More Places Should Do What Alaska Did to Its Elections
The Alaska Supreme Court recently decided a case that an experienced lawyer told the court was “the most significant case since statehood.” The court confirmed that the state’s new primary and ranked-choice voting system — which would eliminate traditional party primaries — is here to stay.
John Avlon: How Political Extremes Hijack American Politics (CNN)
CNN’s John Avlon discusses how closed primaries are negatively impacting American politics.
John Opdycke: American elections are getting less predictable
Much has been written about the recent elections in Virginia and New Jersey and what they mean for the Democratic and GOP brands heading into the midterms.
Washington Post: Want to help American political dysfunction? Allow open primary elections
The list of politicians facing primary challenges in 2022 keeps growing. Republican Govs. Brian Kemp of Georgia, Greg Abbott of Texas and Mike DeWine of Ohio each will face challenges, as will Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) for the sin of putting the American public over their party.
Time Magazine: If We’re Serious About Saving American Democracy, This Voting System Might Be the Key
New York City has chosen its next Mayor. It happened more than four months before election day, November 2, when Eric Adams won the Democratic primary.
Healthy democracy requires competition
I am a fourth generation South Dakotan and a lifelong Republican. I was once again disappointed last week as another legislative session came to an end marked by senseless disputes between far-right Republicans and their slightly more moderate brethren on issues of little importance to most of us.
Fear and Retribution
Tens of thousands of former Republican voters have changed their party registration since the events of January 6 in our nation’s capital, with most registering as independents or with a minor political party.
The Atlantic: What if the Parties Didn’t Run Primaries
Building off success in Nebraska and California, advocates want to take nonpartisan elections nationwide.
Scwarzenegger in Politico: How to Fix Polarization? Ban partisan gerrymandering and enact open primaries.
In my second inaugural address, I said, “The American people are instinctively centrist. So should be our government.” That was in 2007. When I delivered the speech, 30 percent of Americans considered themselves Republicans, 35 percent Democrats and 34 percent independents.