Plus, all kinds of Primary Solution news!



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Hi Friend,



In a presidential election or midterm election year, Labor Day typically marks
the start of “election season.” We’re starting to pack our summer stuff away,
kids are going back to school, football season is starting, and campaigns kick
into high gear to capture our attention. (Sidenote: I can’t believe I just
acknowledged that summer is over. Ugh.)



But even though 2023 is an “off year,” elections are still happening that are
worth paying attention to. Just last week, Rhode Island and Utah held special
primary elections for vacant seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Unfortunately, it was yet another advertisement for thePrimary Problem
<[link removed]>. Like more than 80% of U.S. House
contests, these two races won’t be competitive in the general election — so
last week’s primaries effectively decided the winner. And because of
exclusionary primary rules, a tiny number of eligible voters chose the winning
candidate in each district:



The most powerful solution to this problem? Replacing partisan primaries with
nonpartisan primaries. That way, all eligible voters have the freedom to cast
ballots for any candidate, regardless of party. Check out our“X” Thread
<[link removed]> for more.





How Maine is chipping away at the Primary Problem
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Otherwise known as the Pine Tree State or Vacationland, Maine is a national
leader when it comes to tackling the Primary Problem. (I also happen to be from
Maine, but I swear that’s not the only reason I’m talking about it.) In 2018,
Maine became the first state in the country to conduct an instant runoff — with
ranked choice voting — in a federal election. Instant runoffs are key
components of solving the Primary Problem. Because they ensure that candidates
have to win a majority of the electorate to take office, elected officials from
Maine better represent the interests of their constituents.



In 2022, Maine voters took another step toward the Primary Solution by
approving “semi-open” primaries. Previously, Maine voters who weren’t
registered with the Democratic or Republican parties couldn’t participate in
the primaries. This semi-open primary system will be used for the first time in
next year’s Republican Primary, which is amazing news for the 300,000-plus
Maine voters who have previously been locked out of the primaries. ThePortland
Press Herald
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wrote recently about how that may impact the race.



As a philanthropic venture fund, a core part of Unite America’s strategy is
investing in state-based organizations to solve the Primary Problem. We’re
currently investing inDemocracy Maine <[link removed]>, a
collaboration of three nonpartisan state-based organizations, to protect the
instant runoff system and continue to advance electoral reform.





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Nick Troiano talks The Primary Solution on SiriusXM
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Before the long Labor Day weekend, our Executive Director Nick Troiano joined
the Laura Coates Show on SiriusXM to discuss his forthcoming book,The Primary
Solution: Rescuing our Democracy from the Fringes
<[link removed]>. The book is now available for pre-order,
and will be published next March.



I’d encourage you to listen to the whole 10-minute segment
<[link removed]>, but I wanted to draw your attention to Nick’s
final answer about why the Primary Solution is our priority at Unite America:
 
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Click here <[link removed]> to listen to the full interview.




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Sign up: Dr. Rich Barton joins Open Primaries to talk California’s Primary
Solution
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On Thursday, September 21, Unite America Democracy Fellow Rich Barton will be
the featured guest in a virtual event hosted by our partner,Open Primaries
<[link removed]>. The discussion will focus on his research
examining the benefits of California’s top-two nonpartisan primary system.
Since adopting the reform in 2012, California has seen marked improvement in
competition, representation, and polarization. For example, before its top-two
nonpartisan primary, California was the most polarized state in the nation — by
far. But from 2013-2018, it’s one of only five states in the country that has
become less polarized. Californians’ opinion of their state government has also
improved.



Over the past year, Rich has published research on nonpartisan primary systems
inCalifornia
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andLouisiana
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. Later this year, we’ll also release a report on Alaska’s top-four nonpartisan
primary system. While each state pursued a slightly different solution to the
Primary Problem, they all have at least one impact in common: more voters in
these reform states are casting “meaningful votes” that actually determine the
outcome.



Again, the event is next Thursday, September 21, at 2pm ET. Sign up to attend
here
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!
   


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Ross

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Ross Sherman
Press Director, Unite America



P.S. — One last reminder about the American Democracy Summit, which is
happening September 27-29 in Los Angeles. The Summit (formerly known as the
Unrig Summit) is the premiere right-left event to solve America’s political
crisis. More information about the event can be foundhere
<[link removed]>, and you can buy a discounted
ticket <[link removed]> using the
codeBETTERDEMOCRACY.
 



DONATE <[link removed]>





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www.uniteamerica.org <[link removed]>