Smyth: How to fix America’s broken primaries

Isn’t there something wrong with a system that allows as few as 8% of registered voters to swing the election in eight out of a state’s nine congressional districts? Of course there is.”

Joe Smyth of Scottsdale, Arizona, is the author of “Fixing America’s Broken Politics: Common Sense Solutions to the Issues That Divide Us.” A former editor of the Delaware State News, he’s now retired, and the opinions expressed here are his own.

Too often, astoundingly small numbers of registered voters effectively control the election of members of Congress.

That’s because the Democratic and Republican primary elections choose the general election candidates, and many congressional districts are drawn to heavily favor one of the two major parties.

What’s even worse is that the most partisan members of both parties can control the low-turnout primary elections. Then, the majority of voters often show up on Election Day forced to choose between a far-left Democrat or a far-right Republican. Many feel they’ve had to choose “the lesser of two evils.” Or often “the evil of two lessers.”

Voters can fix this by voting for open, nonpartisan primaries — in which every registered voter can participate. It can be done at the state level and doesn’t require an act of Congress. At least five other states have already adopted it. Unfortunately, Delaware and Maryland have not. All voters have to do is sign a petition to put it on the 2024 ballot and then vote for it.Arizona’s 2022 congressional elections show

how ridiculous the state’s party primaries are. Only 35% of registered voters voted. Imagine what the turnout might have been if a nonpartisan primary had been open to all voters!

A bit of number crunching about the winners of each of Arizona’s nine congressional districts in 2022 tell the story:

David Schweikert won the Republican primary in District 1 with 52,067 votes. That’s only 10% of registered voters in the district, yet the election was effectively over because there were 34% more Republicans than Democrats in the district. The general election was close, which probably means most independents voted against Schweikert. Yet, he won. In effect, only 10% of the district’s voters were able to control the primary — and, therefore, the general election.

Eli Crane won the Republican primary in District 2 with 38,681 votes, only 8% of registered voters in the district. But there were 21% more Republicans than Democrats in the district, so 8% effectively controlled the election.

Ruben Gallego won the Democratic primary in District 3 with 47,972 votes. That’s only 15% of registered voters in the district, yet the election was essentially over because there were more than three times as many Democrats than Republicans in the district. Only 15%!

Greg Stanton won the Democratic primary in District 4 with 61,319 votes. That’s only 14% of registered voters in the district, but this was Arizona’s most competitive congressional district, with independents outnumbering both Democrats and Republicans.

Andy Biggs won the Republican primary in District 5 with 98,114 votes. That’s only 20% of registered voters in the district, yet the election was effectively over because there were 86% more Republicans than Democrats in the district. This means 20% of the district’s voters effectively controlled the election.

Juan Ciscomani won the Republican primary in District 6 with 49,559 votes. That’s only 10% of registered voters in the district, yet there were 86% more Republicans than Democrats in the district. Ten percent were able to effectively control the election.

Raul Grijalva won the Democratic primary in District 7 with 62,547 votes. That’s only 15% of registered voters in the district, yet there were more than twice as many Democrats than Republicans in the district. So, only 15% of the district’s voters were able to effectively control the election.

Debbie Lesko won the Republican primary in District 8 with 100,629 votes. That’s 21% of registered voters in the district, yet there were 66% more Republicans than Democrats in the district. So, 21% were able to effectively control the election.

Paul Gosar won the Republican primary in District 9 with 67,340 votes. That’s only 14% of registered voters in the district, yet the election was effectively over because there were nearly twice as many Republicans than Democrats in the district. That means 14% effectively controlled the election.

Isn’t there something wrong with a system that allows as few as 8% of registered voters to swing the election in eight out of a state’s nine congressional districts? Of course there is.

The Democratic and Republican primaries are what’s wrong. And why should taxpayers pay for primary elections for private political parties, anyway? Wouldn’t it be less expensive — and more representative — to have one primary election in which everybody can vote?

Both parties will oppose the move to nonpartisan primaries because they like things as they are. It’s voters who are the losers. But voters can fix it, and they can fix it next year.

Open, nonpartisan primaries would mean candidates would have to appeal to the center, not just to either party’s most partisan voters. The quality of the candidates would improve and so would voter turnouts. And both of those changes would be healthy for our democracy.

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.