CMC Alum Argues For Primary over Caucus System

From Claremont McKenna College alum (now assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Minnesota) Kathryn Pearson’s op-ed in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune:

When it comes to the selection of candidates for state and federal office, the caucus system is even more undemocratic. Delegates to congressional and state conventions are selected at precinct caucuses in a haphazard way. Among the many caucus-goers I’ve spoken to, only one attended a caucus that selected delegates on the basis of sub-caucusing for specific Senate candidates. The rest simply took the names of volunteers with no discussion of the candidates whatsoever.
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If the parties value citizens’ input, they will institute a primary system that will maximize citizens’ opportunities to participate and award delegates that are binding in direct proportion to the statewide vote. The rules of the game matter — so let’s change them.

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