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Message
LA moving toward closed primaries
Posted on 1/17/24 at 11:50 am
Posted on 1/17/24 at 11:50 am
A bill has been filed, supported by Gov. Landry, and gaining steam, that would move LA towards closed primaries for federal, state, and judicial elections. The current bill has this taking effect in 2024.
While I can see some benefits to this (such as having our congressional winners decided by federal election day) I think there are a number of concerns.
1) Why is this in the special session? This wasn't even really a big campaign issue. This should be saved for the regular session, where more time can be spent debating the issues.
2) There is, as I read the bill, no provision for a primary runoff. The person with the most votes in the primary moves on to the general. If a candidate wins 30% of the primary, they move on to the general.
3) This gives more power to the state parties. While in theory this makes sense, the LAGOP is a dumpster fire, and the LADEMS are even more of a disaster. They both need to clean up their stuff before we even think of giving them more power.
4) It applies to president, US House, US Senate, statewide elected offices, State House, State Senate, elected officials on a state board or commission (such as BESE and utilities commission) and judgeships. I'm fine with this for statewide elected offices, US house, US Senate, president. I'm 50/50 with this for State Senate and State House. I'm not really ok with it for commissions and boards, and I'm completely against it for judiciary.
5) This does not apply to parish, local, municipal elections, which is a good thing.
Here is the bill if anyone wants to read it:
LINK
While I can see some benefits to this (such as having our congressional winners decided by federal election day) I think there are a number of concerns.
1) Why is this in the special session? This wasn't even really a big campaign issue. This should be saved for the regular session, where more time can be spent debating the issues.
2) There is, as I read the bill, no provision for a primary runoff. The person with the most votes in the primary moves on to the general. If a candidate wins 30% of the primary, they move on to the general.
3) This gives more power to the state parties. While in theory this makes sense, the LAGOP is a dumpster fire, and the LADEMS are even more of a disaster. They both need to clean up their stuff before we even think of giving them more power.
4) It applies to president, US House, US Senate, statewide elected offices, State House, State Senate, elected officials on a state board or commission (such as BESE and utilities commission) and judgeships. I'm fine with this for statewide elected offices, US house, US Senate, president. I'm 50/50 with this for State Senate and State House. I'm not really ok with it for commissions and boards, and I'm completely against it for judiciary.
5) This does not apply to parish, local, municipal elections, which is a good thing.
Here is the bill if anyone wants to read it:
LINK
19
Posted on 1/17/24 at 11:52 am to LSUFanHouston
quote:
Why is this in the special session?
Because there is already going to be a special session and they want it to apply for this year. Waiting until April-June would be too late.
quote:
There is, as I read the bill, no provision for a primary runoff. The person with the most votes in the primary moves on to the general. If a candidate wins 30% of the primary, they move on to the general.
Gross. More plurality governance.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 11:53 am to LSUFanHouston
I’m calling my legislators to oppose this bill. I believe closed primaries result in more radical candidates while open primaries result in elected officials that are more representative of the state as a whole. I don’t want the republican state party to have more power over picking their nominee. I invite everyone here to call their legislators and oppose this bill as well. The jungle primary is a vastly superior system.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 11:54 am to LSUFanHouston
quote:
2) There is, as I read the bill, no provision for a primary runoff. The person with the most votes in the primary moves on to the general. If a candidate wins 30% of the primary, they move on to the general.
Why is this a problem? If 30% is better than the field, that is the best candidate.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 11:56 am to winkchance
quote:
If 30% is better than the field, that is the best candidate.
I don't think that electing representatives receiving less than a majority of constituent support is a good thing.
Its the opposite of representative government.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 11:56 am to Indefatigable
quote:
Gross. More plurality governance.
If the goal is to get rid of RINOs, only needing a plurality will undermine that.
Conservative district so two conservative R's run but only one moderate R thinks he has a chance. The two conservative cancel out and the moderate gets a plurality. Then, since it's a conservative district, the mod wins in the general against a democrat.
No runoffs = chaos
Posted on 1/17/24 at 12:46 pm to LSUFanHouston
I believe La. should have closed primaries.
But I agree with you on these points;
I think we need to go to closed primaries for all races.
But I agree with you on these points;
quote:
1) Why is this in the special session? This wasn't even really a big campaign issue. This should be saved for the regular session, where more time can be spent debating the issues.
2) There is, as I read the bill, no provision for a primary runoff. The person with the most votes in the primary moves on to the general. If a candidate wins 30% of the primary, they move on to the general.
I think we need to go to closed primaries for all races.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 12:46 pm to Indefatigable
As a political independent, I hate this idea. If the parties (which are private political organizations) want to have a process for winnowing down to their preferred candidate, they should do it privately and pay for it privately, and only put their best candidate up.
Why should my tax dollars go to a process that I can't fully participate in?
Why should my tax dollars go to a process that I can't fully participate in?
Posted on 1/17/24 at 12:49 pm to LSUFanHouston
quote:
LA moving toward closed primaries
Good
Posted on 1/17/24 at 12:50 pm to bilblues
quote:
Why should my tax dollars go to a process that I can't fully participate in?
My tax dollars go to public schools, libraries, parks, etc. I do not use any of those; however, for the good of the whole we all pay.
Elections are no different.
This post was edited on 1/17/24 at 12:52 pm
Posted on 1/17/24 at 12:51 pm to Indefatigable
Not to mention that roughly 1/3 of the electorate in Louisiana are registered No Party or Independent. Unless that changes very soon (unlikely), our general election choices are going to be decided by a very small portion of the electorate.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 12:53 pm to LSUFanHouston
It's because trash democrats who have no intention of voting Republican keep fricking up primaries.
It's an attempt to welcome all voters who want to vote Republican. You can't have nice things with democrats
It's an attempt to welcome all voters who want to vote Republican. You can't have nice things with democrats
Posted on 1/17/24 at 12:54 pm to Mickey Goldmill
quote:
Not to mention that roughly 1/3 of the electorate in Louisiana are registered No Party or Independent. Unless that changes very soon (unlikely), our general election choices are going to be decided by a very small portion of the electorate.
Independents can run in the general, as can small parties.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 12:55 pm to LSUFanHouston
quote:
There is, as I read the bill, no provision for a primary runoff.
"If you endorse me, I'll make sure your campaign debt is paid off, and snag you a cushy govt job"
Yeah, thats they way to get better govt
Posted on 1/17/24 at 1:02 pm to doubleb
quote:
Independents can run in the general, as can small parties.
Oh I know, but they are rarely serious contenders. Most independents in Louisiana are still voting for one of the two party candidates. My point was they are pushing to get this implemented for this year. Most people won't change their voter registration that fast.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 1:05 pm to Turbeauxdog
quote:
It's because trash democrats who have no intention of voting Republican keep fricking up primaries.
It's an attempt to welcome all voters who want to vote Republican. You can't have nice things with democrats
Huh? We don't have party primaries right now. Everyone is on a single ballot.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 1:06 pm to kingbob
I agree with this entirely. If we have to have closed primaries, I would like it for federal reps only.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 1:10 pm to kingbob
quote:
The jungle primary is a vastly superior system.
According to this article hilariously titled, "Closed primaries are the New Jim Crow in Louisiana," we've had open primaries for the last 50 years. Has Louisiana gotten any better in those 50 years? To me it's been lots of the same ole, same ole getting elected.
I say whatever we've been doing for the last 50 years, lets try the opposite and see what happens.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 1:16 pm to Witty_Username
Louisiana was a one party state 50 years ago which rarely had actual contested elections. Louisiana was a democracy in name only, fully run by an oligarchy.
Today, Louisiana has a lot of problems, but no one can deny that the state’s government isn’t more representative of its general population. The choices might be shite, but there actually are real choices.
Today, Louisiana has a lot of problems, but no one can deny that the state’s government isn’t more representative of its general population. The choices might be shite, but there actually are real choices.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 1:18 pm to doubleb
quote:
My tax dollars go to public schools, libraries, parks, etc. I do not use any of those; however, for the good of the whole we all pay.
Elections are no different.
The heck? Everyone can use public schools, libraries, parks, etc.
Close to a 1/3 of the public cannot vote in the proposed closed primaries. Yet they will have to pay for the elections of political parties who specifically exclude them.
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