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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The Chuck ToddCast