Do you have any idea just how small 0.5% is
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Hi Friend,

 

As the global community grapples with how to respond to Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine, gone are the set partisan talking points that traditionally guide our
politicians. The standard camps of blue and red have been wiped out, leaving in
their wake odd alliances of lawmakers attempting to avoid war, stabilize gas
prices, and defend the rights of a sovereign nation. 

 

As Americans, we can see streaks and shadows of what cross-partisan
deliberation and compromise could look like.Yet with a season of problematic
primaries upon us and career politicians scrambling to keep their seats, who
can say how long this can last. To improve representation and unlock the power
of the American voter, we need to start by addressing the root causes of the
partisanship and polarization that ails us. We need to start by passing reforms
to address the “Primary Problem <[link removed]>.” 

 

Here are three things to think about this week:

On putting country over party
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In the face of unprovoked brutality from Vladimir Putin’s Russian forces,
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has emerged as a symbol of democratic
triumph for the West. Yet as we hail Zelensky’s steel will, Americans cannot
afford to forget our own vulnerabilities. 

 

As E.J. Dionne Jr
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. points out, we cannot redeem our democracy solely through our desire to
uphold democratic ideals globally. Our system is decaying, as we have long
neglected the care and upkeep of our democracy. Defense of democracy starts at
home. (And in our opinion, it starts by reforming our electoral system). Read
hisfull piece here
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.



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How gerrymandering is fueling broken politics
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With all 435 members of the House of Representatives up for reelection this
year (along with a handful of Senators), one would expect the November
elections to be highly consequential to determining the country’s political
future. But that’s actually not the case, because for the vast majority of
congress — over 80% — the election that actually matters is the primary
election that happens months before the general election. 


Yet participation in primary elections is tragically low; often times, only
registered party members can vote in the primary, in addition to laws that make
registering to vote and casting a vote more difficult. As a result, a small and
unrepresentative number of voters end up having an enormous amount of influence
in our political system. This week, check outLedyard King’s analysis of the
primary problem
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, and what organizations like ours are doing to fix it. 



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Visualizing the Primary Problem <[link removed]>
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Finally, we’ve launched a new project on the Primary Problem in 2022 to
increase awareness of both the problem and the solution. In 2020, just 10% of
voters cast ballots in the races that effectively determined 83% of congress.
This year — due to redistricting and new voting laws — the numbers could be
even worse. With our new website,PrimaryProblem.us <[link removed]>
, we’ll be tracking in real time how partisan primaries in 2022 are fueling
division, disenfranchising voters, and distorting representation. 


So far, with their 38 seats (36 of which are “safe”), Texas has already
effectively elected 8% of Congress.And to date, just 0.5% of voters had a say
in those races! The primary problem is already rearing its ugly head, and we’re
just getting started. Keep an eye on our new website, and let us know what you
think.



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Best,

Brett
__
Brett Maney
Senior Communications Manager
Unite America
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