The following is a statement made by Morris Meyer about the nomination process.
There are 5 different nominating mechanisms that can be used to select a candidate for a general election. From most exclusive to most inclusive they are: Committee, Closed Caucus, Open Caucus, Firehouse Primary and Primary Election.
A Committee nomination is where the county party’s top brass selects the candidate.
A Closed Caucus is a closed meeting where county committee members select the candidate.
An Open Caucus is a meeting where committee members and primary voters select the candidate.
A Firehouse Primary is held at a select few locations over a few hours on a weekend to select the candidate.
A Primary Election is an election at all the normal polling locations held on normal election hours.
At the meeting last night I advocated for using open primaries as a selection mechanism that picks the candidate and campaign with the most momentum to marshal against a seated Republican incumbent.
I’ll try to summarize the arguments pro and con for a Open Primary vs a Open Caucus / Firehouse Primary.
Primary Election – Pros
More convenient for voters as they just show up at their normal polling place Broadens the candidates’ discussion beyond the circle of Democratic regulars to the electorate at large Gives campaigns a trail-run of their GOTV techniques to refine later for the general election Independents and moderate-Republicans necessary for the general included in the churn of the primary process Primary churn identifies new Democratic and lean-Democratic voters Campaigns not charged to hold the primary
Primary Election – Cons
Held one month later than Open Caucus / Firehouse Primary Duplication of GOTV efforts in primary and general for Democratic voters Open to cross-over voters
Open Caucus – Pros
Held earlier than Primary Election Cheaper for candidates as the GOTV universe is Democratic party regulars Exclusive to Democratic voters – not open to Republican activists voting for the weaker candidate
Open Caucus – Cons
Gives campaigns a false sense of security that their GOTV techniques are tested Campaigns charged for cost of holding the caucus Democrats talking to Democratic regulars does not broaden our circle of base voters Campaigns need to educate potential voters about the caucus mechanism. The appearance that this is a “party-insider” process makes it unfriendly to general electorate. Fewer locations and shorter hours broadens the hurdle for participation, reduces turn-out and increases the cost and GOTV efforts of campaigns to bring out base voters outside of party regulars.
As for the argument that campaigns waste money in a primary, I believe that is a function of how clean the campaigns are run and not the selection mechanism per se. Two candidates talking about Democratic issues in a genteel fashion to the electorate helps further our party. Two candidates tearing at each other turns off voters and is a detriment to our party.
Your circle of friends wins a caucus. The strength of your campaign wins a primary. Displacing an incumbent requires a campaign that reaches out to base voters, as well as independents and moderate Republicans. I believe that an open primary election is the closest approximation to a general election and indicates which campaign is prepared to take the Democratic message to that broader swath of voters.
Warmest regards,
–morris meyer
Democratic Candidate – House of Delegates – 40th District
morris@morrismeyer.com
http://www.morrismeyer.com
703.543.6339
Morris Meyer For Delegate 