Why primaries drive polarization

Nick Troiano, executive director of Unite America, joins the Chuck ToddCast for a wide-ranging conversation about why America’s political system feels increasingly broken—and what reforms could actually fix it. Troiano explains how ranked-choice voting and primary reform can weaken the grip of the two-party system, produce more representative outcomes, and give voters in places like Alaska and Louisiana more meaningful choices. They unpack why partisan primaries reward conflict over problem-solving, how safe districts all but decide elections before voters reach the general, and why unaffiliated voters are often locked out of taxpayer-funded contests.

The discussion expands to the broader reform landscape, from redistricting and campaign finance to unconventional ideas like compulsory representation and even randomly selected legislatures. Troiano argues that periods of political turmoil and inequality have historically led to democratic breakthroughs—and that today’s moment may demand the same. As power continues to consolidate and parties work to protect their advantage, this episode explores whether structural reform, rather than new personalities, is the only path to a healthier, more functional democracy.

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Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Nick Troiano joins the Chuck ToddCast

01:15 How did you get started with Unite America

02:15 There’s been pushback to ranked choice voting in recent years

03:00 Ranked choice voting is a salve for partisan primaries

05:00 New York and Maine are only partially ranked choice system

06:30 There are good ways to present ranked choice results

07:00 The current non-ranked system favors the two major parties

08:45 Runoff elections get a bad rap

10:30 Louisiana has a more functional political system due to electoral reform

11:30 More Alaskan voters can cast a “meaningful” ballot due to ranked choice

13:30 Ranked choice seems to be more beneficial to center left than center right

14:45 Ranked choice opponents trying to repeal it in Alaska

16:00 The two party wants to protect their power & fight against ranked choice

17:00 The status quo is causing our current politics to unravel

17:30 What states do you expect to be on the ballot with primary reform?

18:45 There’s movement to allow unaffiliated voters to vote in primaries

19:45 Politics has become about fighting rather than solving problems

22:00 Why is it so hard to galvanize the centrist voters?

23:45 Without a representative congress, we’ll get terrible policies

24:15 Without competitive elections, we get bad career politicians

26:45 Is there an order democracy reforms will need to be passed?

29:00 There are multiple potential pathways to make democracy better

30:45 Periods of major turmoil & inequality historically lead to major reforms

32:00 Is it difficult to find wealthy donors to back nonpartisan reforms?

34:00 Strong executive leadership makes it easier for legislatures to follow

35:15 Redistricting reform had strong support & has gone in the opposite direction

36:15 Trump is weaponizing the primary system to force redistricting

38:30 90% of districts in the midterms will be decided before the general election

39:15 In safe districts you only can choose what type of Dem/GOP candidate

40:15 Should be able to vote on any candidate in taxpayer funded elections

42:00 It’s strange that government requires public party affiliation records

43:15 Parties shouldn’t be allowed to ask voters to sign party pledge

44:15 Campaign finance reform is a salient issue to most voters

46:00 We used to be far more engaged politically at the local level

48:30 What if we randomly selected legislatures like we do juries

49:30 Rural states might be open to compulsory representation

51:00 Thoughts on a constitutional convention?

52:30 The electoral college is working as intended, but needs updating

53:15 The bar is very high for ratification during a convention

54:00 If power continues to consolidate, a convention becomes more necessary

54:45 Any itch to run for office again?

55:30 What are the major issues running as an independent candidate?

57:00 There are fewer gatekeepers for getting attention as a candidate

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