Can Open Primaries Break the Two-Party Cartel?

Can Open Primaries Break the Two-Party Cartel?

Author: The Politics Guys - Government Democracy & News July 29, 2026 Duration: 53:14
Open Primaries founder John Opdycke joins Mike to argue that America’s primary system gives political parties too much control while shutting out millions of independent voters. They discuss taxpayer-funded closed primaries, top-two elections, whether open systems actually reduce polarization, the threat of strategic “raiding,” and why third parties so rarely gain traction. Opdycke also explains the 2024 defeats of several election-reform measures, the risks of bundling open primaries with ranked-choice voting, opposition from both major parties, and why changing election rules matters only if reformers also build new political coalitions and persuade voters to participate.

Open Primaries on X

The Politics Guys on Facebook | X

Listener support helps make The Politics Guys possible. You can support us or change your level of support at patreon.com/politicsguys or politicsguys.com/support. On Venmo, we’re @PoliticsGuys.

The Politics Guys is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Tired of political conversations that feel more like shouting matches? The Politics Guys offers a different space, one built on civility and genuine expertise rather than partisan performance. Host Michael Baranowski guides discussions with a rotating panel of knowledgeable voices-political scientists, law professors, and attorneys who've worked within government. These aren't just pundits; they're practitioners and scholars who bring evidence and experience to the table. Each episode digs into the nuances of American policy and the political landscape, ensuring multiple perspectives are heard not as debate points, but as integral parts of a complex whole. You'll find the analysis here is grounded and deliberate, a conscious step away from the reactive news cycle. This podcast thrives on the principle that understanding different viewpoints is the foundation of a healthier democracy, not a compromise of one's own. It’s for anyone seeking depth over drama, and substance over soundbites, in their political listening.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Politics Guys
Podcast Episodes
Can Maine Kill the Super PAC? Larry Lessig’s Supreme Court Strategy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:09
Could a voter-approved law in Maine bring down the legal foundation of Super PACs without overturning Citizens United? Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig joins Mike to explain why he believes the lower-court ruling in…
Trump's Imperial Presidency in Overdrive and Grahm Platner's Collapse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:06
Trey Orndorff and Ken Katkin tackle the ongoing volatilty of the U.S. / Iran conflict and its month-old Memorandum of Understanding falling apart. Ken argues there is no hope for peace until the next presidential electio…
Scott Wiener on Housing, AI, and Democrats’ Build-or-Fail Moment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:50
Michael Levy talks with California State Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco, one of the country’s leading Democratic voices on housing policy, artificial intelligence, the abundance movement, LGBTQ rights, and sexual…
Testing Trump’s Power on Birthright Citizenship, the Fed, and Iran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:43
Mike and Jay kick off the Fourth of July weekend with a quick reflection on America at 250 before turning to a packed week of constitutional conflict: renewed U.S.-Iran tensions near the Strait of Hormuz, Trump’s failed…
Can AI Make Campaign Texts Less Awful? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:36
Mike talks with Tom Carroll, co-founder and CEO of Convos, a controlled AI-powered texting platform designed to turn campaign texting from one-way blasts into two-way voter conversations. They discuss why campaign texts…
Political Ideologies: Multiculturalism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:26
In this supporter-exclusive midweek episode, Trey is joined by Justin, and they cover multiculturalism as an ideology.On this week’s show, Trey and Justin discuss:Core principles of multiculturalismWhat differentiates mu…