Behind closed doors, Democrats eye ranked choice voting for primaries

Democratic politicians and activists are quietly lobbying for ranked choice voting, which would change the future of the party’s primaries.

Advocates pushing for the change had a private meeting with Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin and other top party officials to discuss using ranked choice voting for the 2028 presidential primaries.

The voting method allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, shaping how and when voters cast their ballots, as well as how votes are assessed.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, Maryland Democrat, pollster Celinda Lake, the nonprofit group FairVote Action and other Democrats discussed the idea at a late October meeting.

FairVote Action, which campaigns for ranked choice voting, has had ongoing conversations with the DNC, having been welcomed in an educational capacity and logistical partner, according to the activist group.

“Ranked choice voting can help a party unify around their most competitive candidate without fracturing the party, by actually strengthening the party,” FairVote Action CEO Meredith Sumpter told The Washington Times.

At a DNC breakfast gathering in Washington, supporters of the change said it would strengthen and unite the party, prevent votes from being “wasted” after presidential candidates drop out, and encourage coalition building among contenders.

“It favors positive politics rather than negative politics, and that’s a great thing for the Democratic Party primaries,” Mr. Raskin told Axios. “Oftentimes there’s a sense of acrimony and bitterness that can last decades.”

Mr. Raskin pointed to the presidential primary between Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernard Sanders, Vermont independent, as the Democratic Party experienced tense primaries in 2016 and 2020.

Ms. Sumpter said that using ranked choice voting could make a difference in potentially divisive primaries for both parties in 2028.

Parties emerge from a ranked choice voting primary stronger, more unified and more focused on issues voters care about going into the general election, she said.

“You see this risk to political parties in crowded fields where the incentive in a primary is for candidates to tear each other down. But with ranked choice voting, that incentive is flipped,” she said.

When voters have more choices and more say, the chances that they will rank the winning candidate increase their buy-in for the party nominee, regardless of party, she said.

FairVote Action expects crowded primaries from both parties, especially as Republicans look for who will lead their party forward following President Trump’s second term.

In seven states,14 cities and counties used ranked choice voting in the November election, according to FairVote Action. This includes the largest cities in three states: New York City, Minneapolis and Salt Lake City. 

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a socialist, won the Democratic primary’s ranked choice voting, and 78% of voters ranked multiple candidates for mayor.

The Times reached out to the DNC and Mr. Martin’s office for this report.

While the pitch received a mixed response within the DNC, one unnamed committee member said they are “totally open to ranked choice voting.”

Another source said, “We should follow the lead of the states. They know better.”

Concerns include increased waiting times at the polls being a logistical dilemma, and lengthening the primary.

To approve the use of ranked choice voting in primaries, the DNC would need support from its rules and bylaws committee and a majority of the 450-member body. 

Which states can vote early in the primaries is also an essential part of the primary calendar equation. And state parties would also need to give it their stamp of approval, meaning many would need to amend their election laws.