Campaigns for Primary Reform

We’re working with primary reform activists in cities and states across the country to fight for the right of every voter to vote in every public election and to advocate for open, nonpartisan primary election systems.

We’re looking for supporters, activists & spokespeople to join us –if you’re interested in getting involved in your state please send an email to Jeremy Gruber, OP Senior VP at jgruber@openprimaries.org

ACTIVE CAMPAIGNS

Florida

Florida Open Primaries–a coalition of local and national activists–is running a campaign to build awareness and support around the nearly 4 million voters in Florida currently shut out of public elections. 

The campaign is pressuring the legislature to get behind open primaries and is calling on ALL Floridians to join the campaign to address this voter suppression. If you’re a Florida voter, join today!

NEW MEXICO

New Mexico Open Elections has been pursuing legislation to establish semi-open primaries and let all voters vote in New Mexico. As a result of their efforts, the New Mexico Senate this year passed a semi-open primary elections bill, which allows registered independents and minor party affiliates to participate in primary elections without having to change their voter registration. The legislation passed with a vote of 27-10, with support from both Democrats and Republicans. 

The legislation fell just shy of passage in the House, however. NMOE is now planning on going back to the legislature in 2025 with the wind at their backs.

NEW York City

Final Five Voting NYC–a movement fueled by New Yorkers for Competitive Elections have come together to build a grassroots movement to make NYC’s elections more democratic through the adoption of Final Five Voting. The group is led by a growing coalition of local political, community, and business leaders and organizations from all five boroughs and across the political spectrum.

OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma has entered the ring as the newest open primary campaign in town–Vote Yes on 835–a group of diverse Oklahomans of all backgrounds and from all across the state–filed its paperwork Monday to pursue a 2026 constitutional amendment to open Oklahoma’s primaries to all voters with the top two vote getters advancing to the general election. The campaign builds on ten years of conversations and organizing in the Sooner state, and is led by the indefatigable Margaret Kobos, founder of Oklahoma United.

OP Senior VP Jeremy Gruber joined Margaret at the Capitol in Oklahoma City as she submitted the petition to the Secretary of State’s Office for approval.

Former Republican State Senator AJ Griffin, 835 Petitioner & Veterans for All Voters state leader Tony Stobbe, Former Connor State College President Dr. Donnie Nero and Oklahoma Academy President and CEO Julie Knutson joined Margaret at a kickoff rally the next day as they announced the campaign in front of a packed room at the Oklahoma History Center.

Former State Senator A.J. Griffin: 

“We are glad this day is finally here. We are all here today to support improving our democracy by reforming our closed, exclusionary system of primary elections.”

Watch the campaign kick off highlights reel here.

Every news source in the state covered the event-read some of their stories here and here. The partisan pushback has already begun, but as Margaret declared at the rally:

“We’re going to be talking to voters every day until Nov. 5th 2026.”

Supporters must collect 172,993 signatures in order to qualify it for the 2026 ballot.

Open Primaries has been working with leaders in Oklahoma for ten years to support the building of a foundation for a strong campaign and we’re proud to support and champion the Vote Yes 835 campaign as we head into 2025.

 

OREGON

All Oregon Votes is currently building their campaign and aiming for a 2026 ballot initiative. They’re organizing and talking with voters and leaders across the entire state of Oregon. 

PENNSYLVANIA

Ballot PA has launched a legislative campaign (in both the Senate and the House) to allow independent voters in the state the right to vote in Republican and Democratic primary elections. Both pieces of legislation aim to address the voter suppression currently happening in the state and enfranchise the 1.2 million Pennsylvanians currently locked out of the process.

Last session the legislation passed favorably through the Senate, but failed to clear the House. Most recently, the PA House heard testimony from supporters and opponents  as momentum is growing across the state to open the primaries to unaffiliated and independent Pennsylvanians.

UTAH

People4Utah are building towards a 2024 campaign launch for a ballot measure effort to repeal closed primaries and adopt top two nonpartisan primaries.

WISCONSIN

Democracy Found is pursuing legislation to bring Final Five Voting (nonpartisan primaries + ranked choice voting in the general election) to Wisconsin.

 

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