Hi John --

Happy Independence Day! This is a big year for the independent reform movement.  

• Gallup just released their latest poll, showing that there are now more independents in the US than Democrats and Republicans…combined.  
• Five referendums for nonpartisan open primaries will be on the ballot this year: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana and South Dakota.  
• Campaigns in Florida, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Utah (and possibly Oregon and Wyoming) are gearing up for 2026, and open primaries advocates in Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Tennessee are building committees and exploring pathways.  
• Legislative efforts in New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island are inching forward.  

When we launched Open Primaries in 2009, fighting to repeal closed primaries and empower independent voters was considered fringer than fringe.That has changed - big time. A growing coalition of diverse Americans from every corner of the country recognizes that party-controlled exclusionary primaries are a chief contributor to voter suppression, voter dissatisfaction, lack of competition, and dismal legislative results.  

We work hard every year. It’s what we do. And…2024 is a year like none other. Let me repeat that - 2024 is a year like no other.  We have 5 referendums that will be on the ballot! We have a responsibility to do everything we can to win this November, while simultaneously supporting emerging efforts to win in 2026 and 2028, while simultaneously developing new legal, educational, and coalitional tactics. Whew!  

We need to raise millions by election day.  We’re starting things off with a $400,000 summer fundraising drive.  The good news is that we received a special $100,000 matching gift from a longtime supporter in Florida and another $100,000 matching gift from an anonymous donor so every dollar we raise this summer up to $200,000 will be matched.  

There are these moments that come along–every now and then when you step up to the plate in the bottom of the 9th with the bases loaded and this is one of those moments. We’ve never had the opportunity we have right now to enact open primaries.  

If you’ve given to us already this year,  please give again. Give double, triple what you’ve done in the past. This is a year and a time where we have so much opportunity to use the resources in the most meaningful way possible. Every state open primary campaign that passes translates to millions of more Americans being able to vote and giving us a better shot of upgrading our democracy.  

Please consider giving as generously as possible to a real shot at meaningful change in 2024:

Happy Independence Day, 

The Open Primaries Team