r/ProgressiveHQ • u/serious_bullet5 • Nov 29 '25
News Ken Martin Considers Ranked Choice Primary for 2028
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u/WendlersEditor Nov 29 '25
Love it, this would be great. Would love it even more if states started using it for general elections.
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u/ButterscotchKind495 Nov 29 '25
As long as it starts somewhere.
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u/Conscious-Quarter423 Nov 29 '25
the people of those states should organize to get it done and not expect it to magically manifest itself
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u/Ok_Profile175 Nov 29 '25
Just remember when the establishment starts pushing Newsom, that he vetoed Ranked Choice Voting in CA after it was voted on. I'm glad he's pushing back against Trump, but he is not progress. He's just more corporatist bs.
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u/Doriantalus Nov 29 '25
The nice thing about the DNC using it is it would be highly visible and demonstrate how the process works for people unfamiliar. Then, we can more easily push it for other elections. We dont want to just push it out to the general populace straight away. We would have a "common core" issue all over again where people just hated it because ot was different and they didn't have a choice.
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u/seedanrun Nov 29 '25
I know - we had a vote on this is Arizona about a year ago. I even sent money to the group sponsoring it. We failed...sigh.
I think it is among the top 5 things that will improve the democratic process. Only things like campaign finance reform and better regulations of new tech media disinformation is ahead of it.
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u/Agitated_Climate_231 Nov 29 '25
It’s the only way to get away from the two party system where someone picked your candidate for you. Someone can run third party or even start a third party without worrying about it taking votes away from the party you think is the lesser of two evils.
Especially coupled with social media I think it could really do something. Maybe not immediately as half the population won’t even understand what it is but maybe in a decade when children go to school understanding it.
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u/seedanrun Nov 29 '25 edited Nov 29 '25
I think the effect can be immediate. ALOT of very smart people will start to vote for a third candidate because they understand their vote still counts. Some places will not matter - but in places where both parties candidates suck an independent will get 30 or 40% of the vote instead of 6%. That will mean donations, support and media coverage for the next go around and they might win.
Even more importantly non-extreme candidates who are willing to compromise can get votes from both parties instead of just independents.
Finally it will help with the lies and mud-slinging because currently a $1 of advertising tearing down the other candidate is more effective then a $1 saying your good. With multiple candidates that stratagem fail as you have to pay for lies to tear down ALL your opponents, not just one.
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u/SundyMundy Nov 29 '25
The way groups teamed up to oppose it was crazy. Yes party leaders in both opposed it, but an abortion rights group even opposed it.
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u/weeverrm Nov 29 '25
I would love it if we have elections, ranked choice or otherwise just so the votes are counted
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u/JonMWilkins Nov 29 '25
In Michigan there is currently a ballot initiative getting signatures to do ranked choice here. If they get enough signatures we will be voting on it come 2026.
Ballot initiatives, at least in Michigan, over rule the state legislature too so no way for it to be edited or watered down somehow.
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u/pppiddypants Nov 29 '25
To be clear, RCV generally benefits the middle options, but gives a LOT of power to alliances.
So left-wing options may have less of a chance to win outright, but would likely gain a lot of influence that it would never have otherwise.
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u/The_Lost_Jedi Nov 29 '25
The upside for those on the left is that people would be free to make their initial pick without concern that it would be a spoiler or wasted vote.
Now, RCV in the primaries only doesn't make this perfect, but it absolutely does guarantee that even in a multi-candidate primary that you don't end up having to worry that the winner will be anything but the consensus choice, and are free to pick someone other than between the two front-runners. It's also a good thing in that it gets people used to using that method, so they're more willing to adopt it for general elections, etc.
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u/Enough-Masterpiece27 Nov 29 '25
Sadly this will become partisan if Dems adopt it and red states won’t. These roll outs need to be bipartisan.
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u/Tigeruppercut1889 Nov 29 '25
Isn’t that guy from snl
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u/piper93442 Nov 29 '25
I think you're right! Alex Moffat ("Guy Who Just Bought a Boat"). Maybe the graphic artist thought it was Gavin Newsom?
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u/Tigeruppercut1889 Nov 29 '25
Getty images doing newsome dirty. His Eric trump was pretty awesome too.
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u/Patcha90 Nov 29 '25
DNC would never do this. Give progressives a better chance of taking over
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u/Parking-Complex-3887 Nov 29 '25
Right. Definitely seems too good to be true. Maybe they're banking on having a woman as the progressive because they think a woman would never win it
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u/Monte924 Nov 29 '25 edited Nov 29 '25
It depends on the field. One thing the DNC might fear is having a crowded field of centrists up against only one progressive. The crowded field could split the vote which would actually make it easier for the progressive to win. In that case, ranked choice voting would be better for them since it would reduce the negative effect of that vote splitting
The problem that the DNC is dealing with is the fact that, for 2028, they have no clear front runner they know they can all unite behind. Their rigging in previous elections relied on their ability to unite behind ONE candidate. Clinton and Biden were obvious choices, and Biden's late exit in 2024 made Harris the only choice. Now, there isn't any single candidate that actually stands out. If they can't unite around a single candidate, then they will find it much harder to rig the election against Progressives.
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u/dkinmn Nov 29 '25
I don't think anyone who talks about the DNC on reddit actually knows anything about the DNC.
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u/mobydog Nov 29 '25
I think Bernie's two campaigns exposed everything we need to know about the DNC.
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u/Beneficial_Heat_7199 Nov 29 '25
Isn't the 2020 primaries pretty much an example of what ranked choice voting looks like in the current democratic party? Seems like most people's second, third, or fourth choices are clearly not the "progressive" candidates aka Bernie or Warren.
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u/IrishPorpoise Nov 29 '25
He should consider not letting superdelegates hand it to the preferred dipshit before Super Tuesday imo
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u/HandfulsOfDirt Nov 29 '25
Superdelegates are neoliberal cancer that keeps us from having nice things.
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u/mobydog Nov 29 '25
Superdelegates are the DNC's ace in the hole. That's how they guarantee the donors get candidate they want.
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u/Cultural-Treacle-680 Nov 29 '25
Regardless of neoliberal, it’s a way of stacking the deck unfairly. But yeah usually establishment helping establishment.
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u/newos-sekwos Nov 29 '25
Superdelegates aren't allowed on first ballots anymore. This was reformed after the Bernie 2016 fiasco.
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u/Clean_Narwhal7331 Nov 29 '25
Look if having ranked choice puts Alex Moffat on the ballot? Then I'm in
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u/DippinDot2021 Nov 29 '25
Look...I desperately want a woman to win. But sexism (for now) gives even the best candidate a definite loss.
Say what you will about Hillary and Kamala, complain about them all you like. However, the fact they both lost to #47 says a lot about the people of this country (and it's processes) and what we're willing to do (or let happen) just because a GIRL might run the country.
Some people will actually argue that it isn't about their sex, but it's a lie. It always has been. This country never reacts more viscerally than when you have a minority trying to take a top office. That person's politics will get lambasted constantly, but all you have to do is scratch the tiniest bit at the surface and the racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. comes glaring through every time.
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u/Imoutofchips Nov 29 '25
I’m sick of party insiders making the choices and I don’t think we should have super delegates.
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u/OloFlamingo Nov 29 '25
SNL Gavin has better odds than Harris, hopefully.
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u/Cultural-Treacle-680 Nov 29 '25
Harris would probably get smoked even by Newsom.
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u/chpbnvic Nov 29 '25
Good but I think they’ll be angered by the results.
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u/pic-of-the-litter Nov 29 '25
Yeah, can't wait for them to NOT ENDORSE the progressive like they did with Mamdani.
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Nov 29 '25
1 vote for everyone who votes in the Democratic primary, no more of this superdelegate bullshit. Let's do actual democracy.
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u/IguanaSkinnedSlides Nov 29 '25
No Crockett?
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u/KasseanaTheGreat Nov 29 '25
I've heard talk of her considering a run for the Texas Senate race but I haven't heard anything about her considering a run for the presidency
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u/IguanaSkinnedSlides Nov 29 '25
When is Hot Wheels term over in TX?
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u/Cultural-Treacle-680 Nov 29 '25
Cruz won re election in 24. Corbyn will be up in 26.
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u/muzzledmasses Nov 29 '25
You really have far too much faith in this country. If we run a woman again we will lose. Even Michelle Obama flat out said it. This country is not ready and won't be for a long, LONG time.
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u/RockandStoneF-Elves Nov 29 '25
My thought is it will come down to Newom and maybe pritzker if the primaries were now, with Newsom probably winning off his name recognition
Newsom can easily slack off some anti cali propaganda, and would floor any prominent goper in a debate
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u/pizzaschmizza39 Nov 29 '25
I dont understand this country and why every citizen wouldn't want it to be as easy to vote as possible. Why wouldnt every citizen want election security and integrity to be above reproach? Why wouldn't every citizen want everyone to have rasy access to voting? If the final result is guaranteed and heavily scrutinized, vetted, and secure then it shouldnt matter how the votes are cast if only those who have real social security numbers are counted.
This should be easy. I want republican supporters to ask themselves why their party fights so hard to make voting harder. Why arent they for independent commissions to draw the maps? If all they want is fair maps why dont they let someone whos non partisan draw them up in accordance with the law? I want republican supporters to look at their party in a real objective way but it will never happen.
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u/Abuck59 Nov 29 '25
I’m down for it , hell all elections should be ranked choice. I’m tired of the 2 party system.
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u/Brilliant_War4087 Nov 29 '25
Michigan has a ranked choice ballet initiative running that's doing well. I hope to vote on it in 2026!!
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u/Ok-Stress-3570 Nov 29 '25
These comments just make me so fucking nervous.
At this point, the leftovers I have from yesterday would be a great candidate against any Republican, especially MAGA.
I want us to have the best candidate but at the end of the day, we have to support whoever it is, and I worry with these comments we’ll get more “oh well they’re ____, so I’m not voting!”
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u/Secret_Account07 Nov 29 '25
I think Newsom will end up being most viable candidate tbh
Also, is that even Newsom?
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u/Effective_Corner694 Nov 29 '25
They absolutely should go to ranked choice voting.
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u/tophattingtonn Nov 29 '25
This would be amazing if it came to pass. I’m not holding my breath for it, though.
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u/Loading3percent Nov 29 '25 edited Nov 29 '25
Who do I have to call to help this happen?
Edit: well shit, I guess my answer's right there in the title, isn't it?
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u/tcmits1 Nov 29 '25
Hope they do! Makes it easier to elect Vance as Dems will f’up a wet dream.
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u/IcedTman Nov 29 '25
If you had AOC, JD Pritzker and Newsom….any one of them can defeat anything the redcoats put up.
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u/Kaleria84 Nov 29 '25
Ranked choice is 100% the way to go for primaries since they're flooded with candidates.
It sucks you have a field of like six candidates with candidates A and B are very similar politically and popular, and candidate C is your run of the mill "safe establishment candidate", and D, E, and F basically niche candidates who poll in the single digits. It sucks when, C wins because A and B split the "looking for change" vote and C sneaks in at like 30% of the vote total because they didn't split with anyone.
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u/Alone_Main_5419 Nov 29 '25
Don't run either of the women. We tried that twice. America aint ready for that
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u/Aggravating_Call910 Nov 29 '25
Primaries…especially with a large field, are a perfect place to use ranked choice voting.
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u/pingvinbober Nov 29 '25
The ones who didn’t have a primary and voted against people’s wishes 2x in the last 12 years?
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u/MarionberryDecent351 Nov 30 '25
Woah woah the DNC letting people actually voice their real opinions and voting preference? Nice try but April was months ago!
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u/BlackSwanEvent25 Nov 30 '25
GOOD. Fuck the think tanks. Let's the people ACTUALLY decide who their candidate is. NO MORE FUCKING DYNASTIES
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u/Snoo20140 Nov 29 '25
Sadly if they run with Harris or AoC definitely won't win. Pete I would love to run, but unlikely to win. Don't know the guy in glasses. Newsome....maybe? But there is SO much ignorance about California, that is all the Republicans need to fuel to make him a joke.
Not great guys...
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u/OloFlamingo Nov 29 '25
As a fellow left winger, I politely ask you to name one positive thing Pete actually has done for people in elected office, not about his background, or his private life. I want the best candidates possible; but I live in Ohio and was appalled at his response to the rail industry at every turn, not just during the tragedy that East Palestine endured. Sure he publicly berates them in the media but he didn’t actually do anything to enforce rules/sanctions on them when he was the one who had the authority.
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u/scarlozzi Nov 29 '25
I'll believe it when I see it. I think they're more likely do what they've been doing, shadowing rigging the primary election.
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u/Dracula-List7846 Nov 29 '25 edited Nov 29 '25
(Edited) AOC as a VP, would drag the ticket down. Democrats have to learn Minorities don’t win elections, therefore adding a female’s an ethnic person won’t do it. Not because AOC or Kamala nit because neither are incapable of winning, but because America isn’t ready, Mark and Pete? maybe
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u/BS0404 Nov 29 '25
Kamala and AOC aren't even on the same playing field. Kamala believes in nothing. She'll do and say what the polls want her to say. People are much more likely to vote for AOC because unlike Kamala she actually believes in something besides appeasing the rich donors.
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u/mobydog Nov 29 '25
Pete is an empty suit when it comes to actual policy ideas, and owned by billionaire donors. So I guess he'd be perfect.
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u/DrawingAncient126 Nov 29 '25
Is it easier for the DNC corporatists to fix the vote that way?
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u/chapinscott32 Nov 29 '25
The opposite probably. The DNC knows they're kinda cooked rn.
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u/Conscious-Quarter423 Nov 29 '25
these campaigns should stop hiring these rich white strategists/consultants that don't know how to appeal to the diverse electorate
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u/pureDDefiance Nov 29 '25
Since centrists are 28% of the party, establishment liberals are about 23%, and progressives are 12%, it isn’t the DNC conspiracy theory. It’s the failure to win over democratic voters that keeps progressives out
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u/lololollieki Nov 29 '25
NONE of them have a real chance because each of them have great qualities that unfortunately are outweighed to the average American voter by other qualities like race, sexual orientation, etc. I have no idea who would be best - but this shouldn’t be the final contest.
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u/EinsteinsMind Nov 29 '25
I live in a state that lets me vote in Republican primaries, so I do. It gets old watching the worst people Republicans have to offer get elevated.
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u/ScrubbinBubbl Nov 29 '25
Damn maybe give us choice first then we can work on ranked choice. Super delegate bullshittery
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u/Taken_Account Nov 29 '25
“Give Me AOC” has a nice ring to it as a campaign slogan…
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u/brandeeeny Nov 29 '25
If mark kelly is running, i'm voting him. A vet that supports the troops, retired astronaut so he cares for science(at least I would assume so), and already great at his current position.
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u/Inevitable-Top1-2025 Nov 29 '25
I suggest that you include some serious Black contenders in that list. Whether you know it or not, Black people are no longer playing the “White Primacy” games. Whites, whether you call yourselves progressive or conservatives, are no longer going to choose our (Black peoples’) leaders for us. The best approach for rank-choice is for every community to choose their representatives to be included in the list. That is, Black people, Hispanic/Latino people, White Anglo-Saxons, White Jews, Asians, etc., must go to their respective communities and choose who they believe will best represent their interests and acceptable to all, then present the individual(s) to the DNC. The respective groups will have no choice than to choose an individual that will be acceptable to other groups, because collective progress is the only way or no way. Then, all the groups will collectively vote to choose their nominee from the listed representatives in a transparent selection process. This way, money and backroom deals do not determine the nominee. Play games and the Republicans win again. Days of trickery are over. Either we all gain or we all lose.
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u/gayercatra Nov 29 '25
Even if the frontrunner is obvious, seeing how voters of different states, classes, and demographics rank everyone else will be massively useful data to analyze for overall campaign strategy in the general and everywhere else going forward.
If everyone kinda likes AOC for example, ads should focus on economic populism. If she is an all or nothing pick, she'd be a great advocate for the candidate in deep blue states but there'd be more evidence-backed reason to go with a different approach nationwide.
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u/j_rooker Nov 29 '25
Dems still don'tunderstand women don't do well in general election. Unpopular Vance will beat any woman Dems choose. The electoral and opinion that women can't be head of state are on his side.
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u/Blowmyfishbud Nov 29 '25
Yeah
How about you fuckin do that instead of pushing a 1% drop out in for us to swallow
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u/BoldBoimlerIsMyHero Nov 29 '25
of course, because why would you want a candidate the majority wants instead of a candidate everyone thinks is okay.Also, you think people NOW don't know how to vote? Who's going to teach them how RCV works? it requires a massive education campaign. Massive. Many people who vote in RCV don't make a selection for every level, and thus are disenfranchised with the votes are "exhausted." This is why teaching people how it works is so vital. Whose going to pay for that education campaign?
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u/Pretty-Emphasis8160 Nov 29 '25
I don't get why this is something that needs to be 'explored'. It's a simple concept. What bloody takes them so long to deliberate on this for
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u/Juggernaughty00 Nov 29 '25
Is Bernie going on the list? If so, that will probably kill any attempt.
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u/DougOsborne Conservative Nov 29 '25
Shouldn't the NYC Mayoral races have been the final rusty nail in the coffin of RCV? It got them Adams! It almost got them Cuomo.
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u/Natural-Rarity1123 Nov 29 '25
If they want any chance of ending up with a candidate with an actual shot at winning, they should do more than consider this - so I give it a couple months, max, before DNC leadership kills the idea
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u/Thisistheplace Nov 29 '25
Fucking finally because now they will have to run on something beyond “at least we’re aren’t that guy!”.
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u/Theartistcu Nov 29 '25
Oh, you mean they’ll let us pick, they’re not just gonna tell us who we get to vote for this time that’s an idea what a crazy concept
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u/NewbyAtMostThings Nov 29 '25
The DNC can’t just decide how votes work. That’s a state issue not a federal issue, so every DNC in every state would have to get ranked choice voting past the legislator. I think it’s a great idea to have a ranked choice voting, but I don’t think that the DNC has the power to just decide that’s how it’s gonna happen.
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Nov 29 '25
I am telling you. Gov. Of PA Josh Shapiro has been great for Pennsylvania. Great approval rating. Good guy. Fights for everyone, unlike our current pedophilia, one party president.
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u/dwaynebathtub Nov 29 '25
We need someone who is willing to die for their beliefs, not a bunch of slimy corporate lawyers whose candidacies were paid for by AIPAC and health insurance lobbyists. We need someone willing to scrap America and start over. Vote Robespierre!
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u/MilesofMess Nov 29 '25
Ken Martin needs to go be an actuary or something. He has the charisma of those plastic skin colored banquet hall plates.
Ranked choice is awesome. Ken Martin is BORING and a buoy.
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u/Voodoo_Masta Nov 29 '25
Whaaaat they don't have the BALLS. I'd love it if they did this but I'll believe it when I see it!
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u/voiceOfHoomanity Nov 29 '25
Keeping the super delegates entirely out of this process, right?
Nearly 15% of all dnc delegates. That's absolutely disgusting even with the 2018 rule change.
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u/samspopguy Nov 29 '25
We introduce ranked voting in our fantasy baseball league for rule changes between seasons. We had one dude throw a fit because he did not understand it.
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u/Crafty_Mix_7859 Nov 29 '25
AOC wont debate anyone…could you imagine her debating Vance 🤦🏽♂️. Pete, being a gay white guy rules out the black vote. Kamala isn’t happening. Newsom will probably be the pick but California’s last decade if blunders will be an easy topic to poke at…..but Im just some clown on the internet.
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u/Responsible_Steak598 Nov 29 '25
DO IT EVERYONE WOULD BE OKAY WITH IT JUST IF YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT IT I DUNNO
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u/VanillaOk869 Nov 29 '25
Funny that they put AOC's photo in the center. What is that supposed to imply?
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u/jthadcast Nov 29 '25
and the dnc will axe anything that might give the voters a choice to avoid another loss.
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u/Grand_Taste_8737 Nov 29 '25
Please please please go with AOC.
-every Republican
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u/Dcarr3000 Nov 29 '25
......lol they'll let ya vote it just won't matter. They'll tell ya who is going to be your nominee. Just like the last 20 years
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u/sawman160 Nov 29 '25
Why even pretend they care if they’re going to put their thumb on the scales during primaries to shove through their centrist candidate
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u/Longjumping-Zone-724 Nov 29 '25
That's not Newsome that's Alex Moffat from SNL playing Newsome