Most states and all presidential elections are conducted under a partisan election process. This means that candidates for political office must run for election first as the representative of their party, before they appeal to the people as a whole. Because of gerrymandering and campaign finance laws that favor partisan candidates, open primaries, that have been enacted in a few states like California, Washington, and Louisiana, allow non-partisan voters to make their voice heard in the all-important primary elections, where most races are decided.
In an era when congressional approval ratings hover at 10%, yet the re-election rate for incumbents is over 85%, Bill Bloomfield’s close race is at the very least symbolic of the direction our country is headed.
Backers of Proposition 121 want to break the cycle of partisan by stripping parties of their special status and privileges and opening primaries to all voters. A system under which politicians must seek the votes of all those whom they want to represent doesn’t sound like such a revolutionary idea, but maybe it is.
Arizona’s Proposition 121 matters to all of us because there is a silent revolution brewing out West. In a region known for its solid colors, those who see the many shades of our political spectrum are cracking the foundation of institutionalized partisanship.
The real test for the effect of Open Primary is in November, where are a number of “same party” contests as well as two prominent independent vs. Democrat races.
Americans For Responsible Leadership, headed by conservative Arizona Republican businessman Robert Graham, is the leading source of funds fighting Arizona’s Proposition 121, the groundbreaking nonpartisan primary reforms modeled after California and Washington State.
The Peace and Freedom Party (PFP) have a chance in California races. With the passage of Prop. 14, this may be the one chance to elect a PFP representative.
This week, IVN will pay special attention to the numerous incumbent partisans in California and the state of Arizona’s open elections initiative, where independent-minded voters are challenging the partisanship that pervades our politics.
