The Future of the Direct Primary

Abstract

Abstract This chapter summarizes the findings in the book. It argues that the history of the direct primary shows that we should not have high expectations for future primary law changes. It evaluates four different approaches to primaries in the future: accepting the status quo; abandoning the direct primary; seeking a national open primary law; or exploring less tested reforms such as top four or five primaries, ranked choice voting, or establishing a national primary election date. The chapter concludes by observing that historically, political parties have adapted to primary reforms in ways that limit the effects of the reform laws. Although ranked-choice voting or nonpartisan primaries have shown signs that they could slightly reduce polarization, history shows that these reforms are unlikely to have the dramatic effects some reformers predict.