Antidote for Members of Congress Refusing to hold Constituent Town-Halls: Open Primaries

The linked article highlights “adopt a district,” in which Democratic representatives hold town halls in neighboring, Republican-held districts with town hall phobic incumbents.

In open primary states voters get two opportunities to unseat Town Hall Phobic Incumbents, first in the primary and then in the general election. Open primary states allow any registered voter can vote in either party's primary, but not both. Some states, like New Jersey, unaffiliated voters may declare their party affiliation up to and including the day of the primary election.

The establish wings of both parties have vehemently opposed open primaries, but perhaps it’s time the Democrats soften their opposition, with much more to gain and much less to losses. This week the SCOTUS rejected challenges to open primaries, brought by the Democrats in Hawaii and the Republican Party in in Montana.