> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://ivn.us/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Mamdani and Trump Agree on Major Voting Rights Issue - URL: https://ivn.us/mamdani-and-trump-agree-on-major-voting-rights-issue/ - Published: 2026-09-29T15:06:15.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-29T15:06:15.000Z - Description: Plus: Kiley quits the Republican caucus, an AI-run super PAC, and RCV heads to more cities and states - Author: IVN Editorial Board - Tags: newsletter On November 3, ranked choice voting goes on trial in three cities: **Irvine, California; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Longmont, Colorado**. [**No city in Hawaii uses ranked choice voting, and the state capital could be the first**](https://ivn.us/3-more-cities-are-about-to-put-ranked-choice-voting-to-the-test/). These are local questions about local elections, not the national party fights the pundits keep having. The appetite for reform is not subtle. A new poll finds 56% of voters want to replace closed party primaries, and here's why: [**just 9% of voters already picked your Congress**](https://ivn.us/9-of-voters-already-picked-your-congress-a-new-poll-says-everyone-else-is-fed-up/) in low-turnout primaries. That's why you don't want to miss IVP's big announcement on the latest episode of the [**Independent Voter Podcast**: *Trump and Mamdani Agree on this One Big Issue*](https://ivn.us/podcasts/trump-mamdani-agree-on-this-one-issue-not-what-you-think-ep60/)*.* Meanwhile, the legal walls keep closing in on the closers. A federal judge sent the Texas GOP’s bid to shut its primary back to the Legislature, and Jeremy Gruber asks the bigger question: [**is Texas the beginning of the end for closed primary lawsuits?**](https://ivn.us/is-texas-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-closed-primary-lawsuits/) Check out more stories that go outside the two-sided narrative below. ### *FEATURED ▶▶▶* ## 3 More Cities Are About to Put Ranked Choice Voting to the Test [![Ranked choice voting ballot](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/09/image-2f393249-5401-4ba0-a66d-13b23c1bbcb0.jpg)](https://ivn.us/3-more-cities-are-about-to-put-ranked-choice-voting-to-the-test/) Irvine, Honolulu, and Longmont all vote on ranked choice voting November 3\. California already has 7 RCV cities and Colorado has 5, but **Honolulu could become the first city in Hawaii to adopt it**. Shawn Griffiths on what each contest will test. [READ FULL ARTICLE](https://ivn.us/3-more-cities-are-about-to-put-ranked-choice-voting-to-the-test/) ### *POPULAR ON IVN ▶▶▶* [Big Brother or Ballot Security? The Supreme Court Just Picked a Side, For Now ](https://ivn.us/big-brother-or-ballot-security-the-supreme-court-just-picked-a-side-for-now/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/02/Cara-McCormick-IVN.png) Cara Brown McCormick [ ![Big Brother or Ballot Security? The Supreme Court Just Picked a Side, For Now](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/09/supreme-court-justices-voting.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/big-brother-or-ballot-security-the-supreme-court-just-picked-a-side-for-now/) [Is Texas the Beginning of the End for Closed Primary Lawsuits? ](https://ivn.us/is-texas-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-closed-primary-lawsuits/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/06/1517747530842.jpg) Jeremy Gruber [ ![Is Texas the Beginning of the End for Closed Primary Lawsuits?](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/09/ken-paxton-senate-GOP-convention-1.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/is-texas-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-closed-primary-lawsuits/) [9% of Voters Already Picked Your Congress. A New Poll Says Everyone Else Is Fed Up ](https://ivn.us/9-of-voters-already-picked-your-congress-a-new-poll-says-everyone-else-is-fed-up/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/02/dJY12ln-_400x400.jpg) Shawn Griffiths [ ![9% of Voters Already Picked Your Congress. A New Poll Says Everyone Else Is Fed Up](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/09/image-aad88429-0491-4207-94b6-8f53ceb62273.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/9-of-voters-already-picked-your-congress-a-new-poll-says-everyone-else-is-fed-up/) [Did Trump's FBI Just Tip Maine and the Senate to Democrats? ](https://ivn.us/did-trumps-fbi-just-tip-maine-and-the-senate-to-democrats/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/02/Cara-McCormick-IVN.png) Cara Brown McCormick [ ![Did Trump's FBI Just Tip Maine and the Senate to Democrats?](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/09/Susan-Collins-Navatek.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/did-trumps-fbi-just-tip-maine-and-the-senate-to-democrats/) [AI Is Now Running a Super PAC. Its Target? Control of the US Senate ](https://ivn.us/ai-is-now-running-a-super-pac-its-target-control-of-the-us-senate/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/02/dJY12ln-_400x400.jpg) Shawn Griffiths [ ![AI Is Now Running a Super PAC. Its Target? Control of the US Senate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/09/image-54a7c27c-1033-466a-b00d-c816befec2a2.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/ai-is-now-running-a-super-pac-its-target-control-of-the-us-senate/) [Independent Candidates Are Taking Idaho by Storm in 2026 ](https://ivn.us/independent-candidates-are-taking-idaho-by-storm-in-2026/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/05/matt-shinners.png) Matt Shinners [ ![Independent Candidates Are Taking Idaho by Storm in 2026](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/09/idaho-elections-boise-1.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/independent-candidates-are-taking-idaho-by-storm-in-2026/) [America Has an Uncontested Election Problem. Here’s What Can Be Done ](https://ivn.us/america-has-an-uncontested-election-problem-heres-what-can-be-done/) By Rafael Gonzalez, The Fulcrum [ ![America Has an Uncontested Election Problem. Here’s What Can Be Done](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/09/uncontested-elections-in-US.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/america-has-an-uncontested-election-problem-heres-what-can-be-done/) [On the Ballot, But Not the Stage: Illinois Independent Faces Familiar Debate Lock Out ](https://ivn.us/on-the-ballot-but-not-the-stage-illinois-independent-faces-familiar-debate-lock-out/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/02/dJY12ln-_400x400.jpg) Shawn Griffiths [ ![On the Ballot, But Not the Stage: Illinois Independent Faces Familiar Debate Lock Out](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/09/image-b768dc52-41c1-4a86-bd5c-71b004048f27.png) ](https://ivn.us/on-the-ballot-but-not-the-stage-illinois-independent-faces-familiar-debate-lock-out/) ### *INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES ▶▶▶* ## Kevin Kiley Says He's Done Caucusing with Republicans. Senate Independents Want to Break the Caucus System Entirely [![Rep. Kevin Kiley](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/09/kevin-kiley-caucus-gop.jpg)](https://ivn.us/kevin-kiley-says-hes-done-caucusing-with-republicans-senate-independents-want-to-break-the-caucus-system-entirely/) The caucus system is not in the Constitution, but it is how party leadership controls Congress. Kevin Kiley says he is done caucusing with Republicans, and **Senate independents want to break the caucus system entirely**. Matt Shinners reports. [READ FULL ARTICLE](https://ivn.us/kevin-kiley-says-hes-done-caucusing-with-republicans-senate-independents-want-to-break-the-caucus-system-entirely/) ### *VIRAL ▶▶▶* ## Fetterman Snaps: ‘I’m Not Going to Be a Republican’ [![Fetterman Snaps: ‘I’m Not Going to Be a Republican’](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/09/Fetterman_Elevator_Clip.png)](https://www.instagram.com/p/DdW1j8MDAFL/?ref=ivn.us) Is John Fetterman switching parties? He says no, and he is out of patience with the question. Cornered at a Capitol elevator, the Pennsylvania Democrat snapped “I’m not going to be a Republican” and told reporters to “chill and wait for the midterm.” Whatever letter he keeps after his name, **Pennsylvania’s fully closed primaries shut out roughly 1.4 million voters from elections their taxes fund**, and a group of them, including broadcaster Michael Smerconish, is suing the state over it. [WATCH NOW ON INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/p/DdW1j8MDAFL/?ref=ivn.us) ### *EVENT ▶▶▶* ## New York: Let Vets Vote [![New York Let Vets Vote, September 30 at Fraunces Tavern](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/09/LetVetsVote_NYC_Flyer.png)](https://letvetsvote.org/?ref=ivn.us#signup) They swore an oath to defend the Constitution, then came home to a state that will not let them vote unless they join a party first. Join the Independent Voter Project and Independent Veterans of America this Wednesday, September 30 (6:30 to 8:30 PM) at Fraunces Tavern in New York City as we announce **a lawsuit challenging New York’s closed primaries, which shut out 3.6 million voters, about 270,000 of them veterans**. One room. One lawsuit. One coalition. [RSVP NOW](https://letvetsvote.org/?ref=ivn.us#signup) ### *CALIFORNIA ▶▶▶* ## How Liberal Is Marin County, Really? Independent Voters Will Decide [![Marin County](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/09/marin-county-assembly-race.jpg)](https://ivn.us/how-liberal-is-marin-county-really-independent-voters-will-decide/) Cara Brown McCormick on the Marin County Assembly race: two Democrats, one seat, and **the independent voters who will decide how liberal Marin really is**. [READ FULL ARTICLE](https://ivn.us/how-liberal-is-marin-county-really-independent-voters-will-decide/) ## NEW: Join the Conversation Now, when you [sign-up for an account on IVN](https://ivn.us/#/portal/signup), you can help frame, change, and inform the discussion. In fact, you can [submit your own news stories](https://ivn.us/publish/), as long as you follow the simple [IVN Etiquette](https://ivn.us/etiquette/). [SIGN UP NOW](https://ivn.us/#/portal/signup) ### *LATEST EPISODE ▶▶▶* ## Independent Voter Podcast President Trump and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani met cordially at Gracie Mansion while trading scorched-earth rhetoric in public. The Independent Voter Podcast digs into **the one issue the two actually agree on**, and it is not what you think. [WATCH NOW](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5Fg6gGre4c&ref=ivn.us) ### *VETERANS ▶▶▶* ## Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff Navy veteran Bob Chew left the GOP, joined the Forward Party, and is now **taking on John Hickenlooper and both major parties in Colorado**. Paul Rieckhoff sits down with the independent challenger. [WATCH NOW](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7pHjlHqt40&ref=ivn.us) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/05/omp-320x50-1.gif)](https://openmyprimary.org/?ref=ivn.us)