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 York City
New York City Open Primaries — a New York City-based not-for-profit organization, building a grassroots movement to make our City elections more democratic. NYC Open Primaries is a non-partisan effort that believes that opening our “closed primary” election system – to all registered voters – will result in a more representative government. A government that’s more responsive to, and held accountable by, the true majority of voters.
New York City Charter Revision Commission – In 2025, Mayor Eric Adams established a Charter Revision Commission that has the authority to review all aspects of the New York City Charter, including how elections are conducted. Working in partnership with NYC Open Primaries and others, we have been mobilizing New Yorkers to put the issue of opening the city’s primaries to the 1.1 million independent voters front and center. The Charter Revision Commission is considering the issue and could decide to place it before the voters in November.
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma has entered the ring as the newest open primary campaign in town–Vote Yes on 836–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, 836 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 836 campaign.
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.
