Steve Hough

Steve Hough is the Co-Chair of Florida Open Primaries, a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting Amendment 3 for nonpartisan primaries in Florida. He is also Director of Florida Fair and Open Primaries.

Despite 57% of Florida Voters Approving Open Primaries, The Two-Party Establishment Still Won

Votes are still being counted in several states across the country. Unlike the year 2000, Florida is not in the spotlight. However, Florida should be highlighted as the state where

By Steve Hough

/ November 5, 2020

Despite 57% of Florida Voters Approving Open Primaries, The Two-Party Establishment Still Won

OPINION: No More Dirty Partisan Tricks in Florida

This November, St. John’s County Florida elects a sheriff. It’s an important race as law enforcement culture and training is the subject of local and national debate--except 47.

By Steve Hough

/ July 13, 2020

OPINION: No More Dirty Partisan Tricks in Florida

OPINION: Join the Fight to Let All Voters Vote in Florida

For over twenty years, political party insiders in Florida have been conspiring against the voters to stop them from establishing open primaries. But the tide is turning. In 1998, when

By Steve Hough

/ November 25, 2019

OPINION: Join the Fight to Let All Voters Vote in Florida

Will This Critical Battleground State Open Its Presidential Primaries in 2020?

Over the past two years, Florida has experienced a flurry of activity aimed at opening our closed primary system to 3.6 million independent voters (called NPA for “no party

By Steve Hough

/ April 30, 2019

Will This Critical Battleground State Open Its Presidential Primaries in 2020?

OPINION: Stand With Us for Open Primaries

Oftentimes as citizens we say things like “someone should really do something about X, Y, or Z,” or we wonder how some big achievement in history happened, almost as if

By Steve Hough

/ December 10, 2018

OPINION: Stand With Us for Open Primaries

The Fight to Open Primary Elections in Florida Continues

The big news coming out of Florida recently was Hurricane Michael. After developing quickly and moving fast, it roared ashore as a strong Category 4 storm. Although my hometown was

By Steve Hough

/ October 29, 2018

The Fight to Open Primary Elections in Florida Continues

Florida Legislature, Partisan Appointees Prevent Equal Voting Rights for All

FLORIDA - In March 2017, I was asked to assume leadership of the grassroots organization Florida Fair and Open Primaries (FFAOP). The organization was created by Duane Pike, of Tampa,

By Steve Hough

/ July 18, 2018

Florida Legislature, Partisan Appointees Prevent Equal Voting Rights for All

Closed Primaries Mean Harsh Reality For Parkland Students

In the immediate aftermath of the Parkland mass shooting, a new element was incorporated into our collective response. The survivors, and families of those killed, began demanding change. Student leaders

By Steve Hough

/ March 12, 2018

Closed Primaries Mean Harsh Reality For Parkland Students

Florida Voters Defy Two-Party Duopoly; Want Open Primaries for ALL Voters

If the recommendations of the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) Unity Reform Commission (URC) are eventually approved and enacted, will the Democratic Party be “united”? Although fissures always exist within

By Steve Hough

/ December 14, 2017

Florida Voters Defy Two-Party Duopoly; Want Open Primaries for ALL Voters

Florida Needs to Give 3.4 Million Independents an Equal Voice

On Wednesday, October 4, I attended the first meeting of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission’s (CRC) Ethics and Elections Committee in Tallahassee. The Florida Constitution requires a CRC be

By Steve Hough

/ October 6, 2017

Florida Needs to Give 3.4 Million Independents an Equal Voice

OPINION: Florida Independents Want Nonpartisan Elections

The Florida Constitution Revision Commission convenes every 20 years. It consists of 36 appointees plus the state attorney general. The governor appoints 15, the Florida Senate president appoints nine, the

By Steve Hough

/ April 24, 2017

OPINION: Florida Independents Want Nonpartisan Elections

OPINION: Rolling Stone Editorial Makes Weak Argument for Clinton over Sanders

For baby boomers, The Rolling Stones and Rolling Stone magazine were big deals. While The Rolling Stones prepared to play their free concert in Cuba, Jann S. Wenner, longtime editor

By Steve Hough

/ March 29, 2016

OPINION: Rolling Stone Editorial Makes Weak Argument for Clinton over Sanders