Rafael Gonzalez, The Fulcrum

Rafael Gonzalez is an MPP student at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs. Before graduate school, he worked for Boston Consulting Group, the World Food Programme, and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

70% of America’s Elections Had Only One Candidate. That’s a Problem.

Americans don’t lack political opinions. They lack candidates willing—or able—to overcome the money, party gatekeeping, ballot access rules, and other barriers that keep so many elections from ever becoming competitive.

By Rafael Gonzalez, The Fulcrum

/ August 25, 2026

70% of America’s Elections Had Only One Candidate. That’s a Problem.