LETTER TO THE EDITOR – WESTCHESTER RISING
Yes, New York’s recent Presidential primaries were a disaster, and there are many ways to fix them in time for 2028
April 9, 2024
To the Editor:
I read with great interest Dan Murphy’s Op-Ed column in the April 5, 2024 edition of Westchester Rising. Indeed, the recently concluded Presidential primaries left a lot to be desired, even after taking into account that the presumptive nominees of both parties had effectively secured their respective nominations several months before this summer’s conventions.
Here’s what I suggest can be done to make the 2028 Presidential primaries more competitive and cost effective:
• Move the date of the New York Presidential primary earlier in the calendar to say February or early March. For example, the 2008 Presidential primary was held on February 5, 2008 as part of the “Super Tuesday” primaries. This would make New Yorkers’ votes more pivotal in the nominating contests;
• Combine the Presidential primary with state Federal and legislative primary contests; this was done for many years during the 1960s and1970s. While it might dilute the effect of the New York primary on the nominating conventions (then again, with a competitive contest, it wouldn’t), the taxpayers would be saved substantial amounts of money by holding only one primary, and not two, as will be the case later this year;
• Some states this year, for example, North Dakota, Wyoming, Nevada, Iowa and Missouri, are holding caucuses to select their candidates. In previous years, Maine, Texas and Arizona also used a caucus system, (as a matter of fact most states used a caucus/convention method prior to 1972). A caucus would be ideal if a party is nominating an incumbent President; and likely reduce the cost of holding statewide primaries.
To make this work, the reapportionment of Congressional and state legislative district lines (mandated every 10 years due to the census) would have to be accomplished without litigation and on a truly fair basis.
But it is worth trying and needs to begin now.
Stephen R. Rolandi
Larchmont, NY
(Mr. Rolandi, an Independent Republican, served in executive positions in the Giuliani and Bloomberg administrations, as well as for the State of New York. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of Public Administration at Pace University and City University of New York and active with Principles First and Republicans for the Rule of Law)
