Big Step Forward for Campaign in Oklahoma 

Two major wins in court for the Yes on 836 campaign working to bring top two open primaries to the Sooner State with an initiative petition on the 2026 ballot.

A unanimous decision of the Oklahoma Supreme Court has rejected a constitutional challenge to State Question 836 and declared it can be circulated for signatures.  There will be a period of a few weeks to determine if there will be a rehearing.  Then, the Secretary of State will issue an order stating when the period to gather signatures (which lasts 90 days) will begin.  Campaign leaders expect the signature gathering period to begin next month.

A day earlier, the same court halted implementation of a new law passed by the state legislature that adds draconian restrictions on the state’s ballot initiative process as it pertains to State Question 836. Since the campaign had filed their initiative under previously existing state law on the subject the Court found against any retroactive application. 

Both rulings mean one thing: Oklahoma is ground zero for open primaries on the 2026 ballot. Kudos to Margaret Kobos, the campaign’s fearless leader. 

Yes on 836 is a campaign by and for Oklahomans. You can support the campaign HERE. 

Open Primaries has been a staunch partner of the campaign from its inception-we’ll keep you updated on its progress.

Speaking of Oklahoma, David Holt, Republican mayor of Oklahoma City, president of the United States Conference of Mayors, a member of the Osage Nation and a long-time proponent for open and nonpartisan primary systems, is continuing his speaking tour on behalf of top two open primaries. This past week he spoke at the annual meeting of the Oklahoma Municipal League at length about how open primaries have changed the character of Oklahoma City government and why he is a big supporter of Yes on 836. Watch below.

Twenty states employ a combination of nonpartisan voter registration and open party primaries. That means every voter-however they may self-identify politically-can pick a party ballot. That model is under attack.  

The Republican Party of Texas filed a federal lawsuit against Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson in a bid to restrict participation in the GOP’s primary elections to only voters registered with the party. Similarly, legislation introduced in Ohio would require voters to register as a Democrat or Republican 90 days before a primary election to participate.

Now, a new law passed by the Arkansas legislature has granted parties the right to unilaterally close their primary and the Arkansas Republican Party has done just that. Arkansas does allow voters to voluntarily declare a party affiliation on their voter registration form. Voters that do so now will face severe restrictions on their ability to cast a ballot.

Meanwhile, Louisiana (which has partisan voter registration) has begun a voter education drive to educate voters about the state’s adoption of closed primaries for many offices after an effort to protect their unique form of nonpartisan primary failed.  The silver lining? Even with the repeal, proponents were unable to exclude independents from the process after public outrage at the prospect of their exclusion.

Open Primaries is developing a legal plan for Texas and working with local leaders in all these states to push back against the partisan zealots working to exclude voters at record levels. But with relative silence from Democratic Party leaders in these states and a lack of grassroots development, it’s a real uphill battle.

There’s now a new edit of Unite America’s documentary film Majority Rules, which includes the results of the 2024 primary reform ballot initiatives and the Congressional race in Alaska.

Through the lens of Alaska's historic election reforms, the documentary illustrates how voters can reclaim power and bring about fairer, more representative elections. Watch now and help spread the word.

Open Primaries, IVP and the Forward Party File Brief with the US Supreme Court Challenging Closed Primaries

Open Primaries and the Independent Voter Project (IVP) were joined by the Forward Party and Florida Forward Party in submitting an amicus brief to the US Supreme Court last week in support of a writ of certiorari for Polelle v. Florida Secretary of State; a case that challenged Florida's closed primaries which shut out 4 million independent voters.

In their brief asking the Supreme Court to review the case, the amici curiae ask the Court to tackle a fundamental question at the heart of the open primaries debate:

IVP and Open Primaries have been leading the fight to take primary reform to court. In 2014, IVP and Independent Voting challenged the constitutionality of New Jersey’s closed primary system.  That same year, IVP also challenged California’s unconstitutional use of semi-closed primaries in presidential elections. This year, Open Primaries filed a lawsuit in Maryland and has supported legal efforts against closed primaries in Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming.  

The brief offers a new resource to the movement, exploring the many open questions of law that American courts have failed to address when it comes to independent voters and offering new framings in the fight to let all voters vote.  Read the full brief HERE.

Our Primary Buzz discussion series returns with a bang this month as Iowa Gubernatorial Candidate Rob Sand joins us.

Sand is running for Governor of Iowa as a Democrat. But he isn’t following the Democratic Party rule book: “I reject pretty much all labels, including the word moderate. I’m pretty issue-based and I’m independent-minded. I think what we need to do is actually end the system of ‘the lesser of two evils.’ It’s not necessarily so all the answers belong to any one place, it’s just to actually free people up.” 

Sand says he’s building his campaign around the simple notion that Iowans of all walks of life have more in common than the partisans who wake up every morning with new ideas about how to divide us. Polls are showing a competitive match-up, and he is turning heads well beyond the Hawkeye state. See national coverage in the NY Times, Wall St Journal and The Atlantic.

On Thursday September 25th at 2:30pm ET, Open Primaries President John Opdycke will talk with Rob about how he’s building a new kind of political campaign, his longtime support for open primaries and political reform, and why an “independent attitude” is crucial to moving the country forward.  

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Have a great weekend

The Open Primaries Team