Primary Buzz DISCUSSIONS SERIES
Open Primaries President John Opdycke hosts a monthly virtual discussion series to facilitate dialogue and debate within the growing independent and political reform arenas. Open Primaries is a leading national organization advocating for the full voting rights of every American, including the 49% who identify as political independents.
Every month, 500-1200 people participate via Zoom or Facebook Live in a vibrant interview with Q and A open to all participants.
Notable Past guests include: Psychologist Jonathan Haidt, Civil Rights leader and No Labels Co-Chair Dr. Ben Chavis, Forward Party Founder Andrew Yang, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Former La Raza Board Chair Danny Ortega and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt.
NEXT DISCUSSION:
Rise Of An Independent Insider: A Conversation w/ Iowa Gubernatorial Candidate Rob Sand
September 25, 2025 at 2:30PM EST
Rob Sand is running for Governor of Iowa as a Democrat. But he isn’t following the Democratic Party rule book:
“I reject pretty much all labels, including the word moderate. I’m pretty issue-based and I’m independent-minded. I think what we need to do is actually end the system of ‘the lesser of two evils.’ It’s not necessarily so all the answers belong to any one place, it’s just to actually free people up.”
Sand says he’s building his campaign around the simple notion that Iowans of all walks of life have more in common than the partisans who wake up every morning with new ideas about how to divide us. Polls are showing a competitive match-up, and he is turning heads well beyond the Hawkeye state. See national coverage in the NY Times, Wall St Journal and The Atlantic.
On Thursday September 25th at 1:30pm ET, Open Primaries President John Opdycke will talk with Rob about how he’s building a new kind of political campaign, his longtime support for open primaries and political reform, and why an “independent attitude” is crucial to moving the country forward.