Latest news with #independentvoters
CBS News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Independents who want to vote in Pennsylvania's closed primaries seek help from state's high court
Voters hoping to open up Pennsylvania's closed primary system to independents asked the state Supreme Court on Tuesday to declare the current system violates the state constitution's right to free and fair elections. Four independent voters asked the justices to take up the case directly, arguing that in many districts and in many races, including for the great majority of legislative seats, the primary elections among Republicans and Democrats are the only real contests, not the fall election. There are relatively few "swing" districts — in most parts of Pennsylvania, one party or the other predominates. "Exclusion from primary elections is the functional equivalent of losing the right to vote in those districts," they argued in a 51-page petition. The Department of State was named as respondent to the lawsuit along with the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Secretary of State Al Schmidt, who serves under Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro. A department spokesperson said Tuesday that the lawsuit was being reviewed. "It might be suggested that (the) petitioners have brought exclusion on themselves by choosing to not identify as members of a political party," the four voters argued in the lawsuit. They said that ignores how the state constitution's Free and Equal Elections Clause "is designed to equalize voters' power regardless of their faction (or lack thereof) and regardless of their individual political-viewpoints." Jeremy Gruber, senior vice president with New York-based Open Primaries, a group that campaigns for more open primaries among the states, says Pennsylvania is among 14 states with closed primaries. New Mexico this year passed a law allowing voters with no party affiliation to vote in primary elections without changing their nonpartisan status. Lawsuits are pending in Wyoming, Oregon and Maryland, Gruber said. It's unclear when the Supreme Court will rule on the request that it take up the case directly. Three of its seven justices, all Democrats, face up-or-down statewide retention votes this fall, with voters deciding whether they should get additional 10-year terms. When an open primary bill was passed in May by the Pennsylvania House State Government Committee, all Democrats were in favor and all Republicans opposed. It remains pending in the House. "I've always said, the primary's not the election — the primary's the nomination," House Republican Leader Jesse Topper of Bedford County said in the Capitol on Tuesday. Topper left the door slightly open on the topic, saying he is "always willing to give it a fresh set of eyes." The sponsor of the House bill, state Rep. Jared Solomon, a Philadelphia Democrat, said unaffiliated voters "pay into the system, prop up the election system and get zero in return, and no vote. It is not a partisan issue at all." Pennsylvania's nearly 8.9 million registered voters include some 3.8 million Democrats, 3.6 million Republicans and about 1.4 million others. The four voters who sued are broadcaster and political commentator Michael Smerconish; grocery story owner Jeffery Doty; physical therapist Rachel Shanok; and David Thornburgh, son of former Republican Gov. Richard Thornburgh and head of Ballot PA Action, a group that advocates for open primaries.
Washington Post
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Independents who want to vote in Pennsylvania's closed primaries seek help from state's high court
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Voters hoping to open up Pennsylvania's closed primary system to independents asked the state Supreme Court on Tuesday to declare the current system violates the state constitution's right to free and fair elections. Four independent voters asked the justices to take up the case directly, arguing that in many districts and in many races, including for the great majority of legislative seats, the primary elections among Republicans and Democrats are the only real contests, not the fall election. There are relatively few 'swing' districts — in most parts of Pennsylvania, one party or the other predominates.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Democrats underwater in new poll
The Democratic Party's approval rating is underwater at 40 percent, according to a new poll, the latest troubling sign for a party still grappling with its losses from November. A Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll released on Monday found that only 4 in 10 respondents approved of the job that the Democratic Party is doing, a slight drop from June, when 42 percent of respondents answered similarly. Of the 40 percent of respondents who gave the Democratic Party a thumbs-up, they included 72 percent of Democrats and 29 percent of independent or other voters. The latest poll shows that the party's disapproval rating sits at 60 percent, slowly inching up from 58 percent in June. Twenty-eight percent of surveyed Democrats and 71 percent of independent and other voters contributed to the overall 60 percent disapproval rating of the party. By comparison, the Harvard CAPS/Harris poll found the GOP with a 48 percent approval rating, which includes 85 percent of Republicans and 38 percent of independent and other voters who had that sentiment. Overall, the GOP had a 52 percent disapproval rating. The polling underscores a broader trend for Democrats who have grappled with low approval ratings as the party has attempted to reset after a disappointing November election. While the party has begun to regain some of its footing with its messaging as it rallies against the Medicaid cuts included in Republicans' major policy bill, the party is still searching for national leaders to help guide the party. 'Democrats are doing a good job throwing jabs at the administration but that's not helping them with their own image, which remains in the cellar,' said Mark Penn, chair of the Harris Poll, in an email. However, the Harvard CAPS/Harris polling indicates there may be several openings for Democrats: For one, the latest poll found that only 40 percent of respondents said the country was on the right track, while 51 percent said it was on the wrong track. And while 52 percent of respondents believe the U.S. economy is strong today, only 38 percent of respondents also say that the economy is on the right track. One thing likely to play in Democrats' favor is that the president's party in power typically faces headwinds during the midterm cycle, which could aid Democrats in retaking the House and making inroads in the Senate. The Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll survey was conducted from July 6 to July 8 and surveyed 2,044 registered voters. It is a collaboration of the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard University and the Harris Poll. The survey is an online sample and weighted to reflect known demographics. The margin of error is 2.2 percentage points. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Letter: Oregon primaries should be open to all
Today in Oregon, 45% of voters are not registered as either Democrats or Republicans ( Yet, these independent and unaffiliated voters are not allowed to vote in primaries. House Bill 3166, if enacted, would have implemented open primaries with the top two vote-getters in any primary moving on to the general election. The House Rules Committee considered HB 3166 during this past legislative session, but the measure did not get to the full House for a vote. It is not my purpose here to analyze HB 3166. It seems well thought out and drafted, but a better approach may be crafted. Rather, I am writing to urge voters to contact their elected state representatives and senators and tell them that they expect open primary legislation to be enacted in the next session of the Legislature. A majority of registered voters have chosen not to register as Democrats or Republicans. Every registered voter should have the right to vote in a primary where all qualified candidates are considered. Candidates should not be selected in separate primaries open only to voters who have registered for the party running the primary. So, if you agree, take a moment to write or call your elected state representative. David Ellis Sisters
Fox News
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
'The View' co-host slams 'blind loyalty' to parties after Karine Jean-Pierre leaves Democrats
The co-hosts of "The View" discussed Karine Jean-Pierre's exit from the Democratic Party on Thursday and questioned what it means for Democrats moving forward, with one slamming "blind loyalty" to parties. The longtime spokesperson for former President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that she has left the Democratic Party and become an independent. Jean-Pierre also revealed an upcoming book, "Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines," that quickly raised eyebrows among the journalists who dealt with her in the briefing room. Co-host Sara Haines railed against the tribal "jersey-wearing" politics of the two-party system and praised Jean-Pierre's decision to come out as an independent as "honest." "I think it's a more honest political take," she said. "I feel like maybe I'm biased as an independent, that everyone should be independent, but the largest group of voters we have are independents, and I think it's because our system is so simplistic by having two parties and assuming anyone fits in those boxes at all." Haines then addressed a counterpoint to her argument — not being able to vote in primary elections — and noted that 35 of the 50 states hold either open or semi-open primary elections, which benefits independent voters. "I think it's time for politicians to sell themselves completely to someone consuming what they have to offer, and not worrying about jersey-wearing partisan politics and tribalism," Haines argued. Co-host Joy Behar took issue with Jean-Pierre labeling herself as an independent, doubting that she would ever vote for a Republican. Haines clarified her position, explaining that independents tend to lean to one side or the other of the political aisle, and even though she has voted Democratic for 25 years, she feels the party does not fully represent her values. Still, Behar challenged her, saying, "Yeah, but you keep voting for them." "I wait to see the candidates. And if the Republicans ever put up a candidate that I was like, 'That's my person,' in a heartbeat, I would vote for them," she said. Fellow co-host Sunny Hostin chimed in, saying that Haines' take only makes sense for "what the Republican Party used to be," but the "Trump-lican party" makes it a much different situation now. She also argued that most self-identified independents vote exclusively for one party, so when it comes down to it, they're not truly independents, and cited her father's voting record as an example. Hostin recalled that although her father identified as an independent, he voted exclusively for Democrats for 40 years — until she encouraged him to formally register as a Democrat to vote in primaries. Haines contended that Hostin had a "narrow view" of the issue and recalled the negative reaction she received from Democrats when she called for Biden to step down. "My point here is that there's blind loyalty," she said. "The second I sat here at this desk and said I felt President Biden should step down, the hate I got was not from the right. It was from the left. To me, the reason I'm an independent is to say, 'I call 'em like I see 'em. And I hope you do, too,' because that's the way the system should work."
