OPEN PRIMARIES: ‘Party bosses have too much power’

Regarding Luke Mayville’s letter about open primaries published Aug. 25. Luke suggested reading the ballot measure prior to making any decision, I will.

Seems like every election cycle you hear about open primaries having issues with crossover voters influencing a critical candidate decision for the other party. It most often involves voters affiliated with one political party voting in the primary of another political party to influence that party’s nomination. For example, if a district routinely elects the Democratic nominee, Republican voters may vote in the Democratic party primary to attempt to influence the outcome. This could be a good-faith attempt to select a more conservative Democratic nominee who would be palatable to the Republican voters, or it could be sabotage, an attempt to nominate a weaker candidate who is easier to defeat in the general election.

I agree with Luke that the party bosses have too much power. I would suggest getting more involved with party politics at the local level, but I’m not really sure that would help.

RICK STRAUB

Hayden