Open Primaries Have Their Fans. The Parties Are Not Among Them.

"Louisiana voters cast ballots on Saturday, Senator Bill Cassidy's political demise could be hastened by a decision his fellow Republicans made two years ago: getting rid of an open, nonpartisan primary in favor of a closed system in which Republicans and Democrats compete separately. That nonpartisan primary was adopted, in part, to empower politicians like Mr. Cassidy who have been willing to cross party leaders and reach across the aisle."

"Supporters of open primaries and political scientists who have studied them say they increase voter participation and elect more middle-of-the-road candidates. Across the country, partisans are turning against such systems. In response, supporters are intensifying their advocacy with an even bigger claim, based on research commissioned by open primary proponents: Open primaries may better people's quality of life in tangible ways that include increased prosperity, longer lives and lower murder rates."

"Open primaries can impede such partisan gains, because they allow voters across the political spectrum to choose candidates, often resulting in centrist choices. Open primaries, the thinking goes, allow non-party faithful to vote and run which increasingly polarized party leaders see as a potential forfeit of power. They also claim that open primaries, and more complicated systems that let voters rank candidates, are confusing and unfairly reduce the influence of loyal party voters."

"Mr. Cassidy, a moderate Republican who voted to convict President Trump after his 2021 impeachment trial, owes some of his success to Louisiana's previous system, which put politicians from both parties in a single primary. The top two met again in the general election."

Louisiana voters will cast ballots as Senator Bill Cassidy’s political standing may be affected by a prior Republican decision to replace an open, nonpartisan primary with a closed system. The earlier open primary was intended to empower politicians willing to cross party lines and reach across the aisle. Supporters and political scientists say open primaries increase voter participation and produce more middle-of-the-road candidates. Some advocates also claim research links open primaries to tangible quality-of-life benefits such as greater prosperity, longer lives, and lower murder rates. As partisans intensify efforts to win elections, open primaries are viewed as obstacles to partisan gains because they allow voters from across the spectrum to select candidates, often centrist ones. Critics argue open primaries confuse voters and reduce the influence of loyal party voters. Cassidy’s earlier success is tied to Louisiana’s former system, where candidates from both parties competed in a single primary before the top two advanced to the general election.

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