The Shift of Nomination Power

The podcast examines the significant shift in political nomination processes, particularly the transition from party elites selecting candidates to primary voters playing a central role. This change, intended to democratize parties, has resulted in nominations often being determined by a small, unrepresentative faction of voters with extreme views rather than typical party members or average voters. The consequences of this shift became apparent as candidates appealing to the extreme bases gained momentum, sidelining those better suited for broader electability and governance. The hosts highlight that while primary elections have empowered ordinary voters, they have simultaneously diminished the parties' ability to cultivate strong, capable candidates who can unite diverse factions.