We’ve effectively elected 13% of Congress already, and it’s only March.
That’s the reality of partisan primaries, and it’s exactly what this week’s Democracy Lab episode digs into. Beth Hladick, policy director at Unite America, breaks down what she calls the biggest solvable problem in American politics: the party primary.
In numerous districts, the primary election, characterized by low voter turnout, tends to be the pivotal contest rather than the general election. This situation often results in decisions being made by a limited and unrepresentative segment of the electorate. Consequently, it not only diminishes voter engagement but also alters the incentives for elected officials, who may prioritize avoiding primary challenges over effective governance.
We talk to Beth through what the evidence shows about open and all-candidate primaries in Alaska, California, and Washington and what the 2024 ballot measure results actually tell us about the road ahead.
Read about the Primary Problem here.
Learn more about the Unite America Institute here.
👉 Listen here now: