Georgia GOP chair Josh McKoon has released the party’s “election integrity priorities,” which includes a call for closed party primary elections to ensure that only Republican voters elect the Republican nominees. McKoon argues that limiting participation to Republican voters will ensure that the party’s nominees reflect the philosophy of the voters. Currently, Georgia’s open primaries allow any voter to choose either party’s ballot.
McKoon’s proposal faces opposition from mainstream Republicans who rely on moderate and independent votes to carry swing legislative districts. The Georgia Republican Party has already voted to expel former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan from the state GOP, indicating a push towards more conservative policies within the party. This change could also spell trouble for GOP figures like Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who have faced backlash from party leaders for their actions regarding the 2020 election and former President Donald Trump.
While crossover voting is not widespread, there have been instances of voters casting ballots in both parties’ primaries. McKoon’s proposal aims to address this issue and ensure that Republican primary elections are limited to voters who declare their allegiance to the party. The debate over closed party primary elections is likely to be heated and face resistance from more moderate factions within the Republican Party.
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