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Q&A
SEIU 32BJ's concerns about the impact of open primaries on local races
1:11:47
·
3 min
Commissioner Diane Savino questions the representatives from SEIU Local 32BJ about their opposition to open primaries, arguing that the union's process for endorsing and mobilizing for candidates wouldn't change.
Candis Tall responds that in smaller, partisan districts, a top-two system could prevent candidates from different ideologies from competing effectively.
She uses Council District 13, a Democratic-majority district with a Republican council member, as an example where a closed primary system allowed for a competitive general election.
- Savino argues that unions' powerful get-out-the-vote efforts would be just as effective in an open primary system.
- Tall counters that in districts with a strong partisan lean, a top-two system would likely result in two candidates from the same party advancing, preventing ideological diversity in the general election.
- She points to a district that is over 60% Democratic but currently has a Republican representative as evidence that the current system allows for competitive outcomes.
Diane Savino
1:11:47
I can't I can't help myself.
1:11:48
So first of thank you, Candice.
1:11:50
It's good to see you.
1:11:51
Cameron, I just wanna ask a question because I've heard from some of my colleagues in the labor movement.
1:11:55
There's a concern about the idea of open primaries, nonpartisan, whatever we wanna call it, that it would it would create a problem for labor organizations and their ability to educate voters and move them.
1:12:07
And I don't quite understand that because the best people in the city that do a good job of educating voters, motivating them, and running GOTV efforts are unions.
1:12:16
You it's what you guys do.
1:12:17
I mean, I used to do it myself.
1:12:19
So I I don't let's assume we have a an open, for better term, for better term, an open primary in June.
1:12:27
And there are seven candidates that are running.
1:12:30
One's a Democrat, one's a Republican, a working families party, an unaffiliated, whatever it happens to be.
1:12:35
The process by which you would determine who would be your selected candidate that represents the interest of thirty two BJ and your members wouldn't change.
1:12:43
You would still advocate and and, you know, run a campaign to get that person elected because they reflect the values of your organization.
1:12:52
So I don't quite understand why unions are so concerned about whether it's an open primary where people where more than one, individual is allowed to run that's not just a Democrat or a Republican or whatever.
1:13:04
Your process wouldn't change.
1:13:05
You'd pick the candidate that best represents the interest of your union.
1:13:08
You would advocate for them.
1:13:09
You'd educate.
1:13:10
You turn out the vote.
1:13:11
So what what maybe I'm missing something.
1:13:13
And if I am, please help me understand this because I don't quite get it.
Gale Brewer
1:13:16
Yeah.
1:13:17
Do you wanna take it or you want me to?
Candis Tall
1:13:18
I think I mean, I I think that when you're talking about larger races, citywide races, I think some of what you're saying has some merit.
1:13:26
But I think the smaller the district, the and, you know, when we look at some districts right now, if it's 60% registered Republicans, are you actually giving a Democratic person a chance to actually compete and have their voices be heard and have them appeal to voters?
1:13:41
If, you know, if you're picking the top two, they're probably gonna both be Republicans, and then there's not a chance for someone from a different ideology to actually be heard to those voters when they're still 40% of that district and maybe folks who would flip over and do something different if they were spoken to and heard a different, you know, ideology or opinion that they could resonate with.
Diane Savino
1:14:00
But you you could make the same argument in, you know, other districts that are overwhelmingly democratic where there's no prayer in, you know, hell of anybody else who's not a registered Democrat from moving forward out of a Democratic primary, which sometimes produces maybe four or 5,000 votes Right.
1:14:16
In total.
1:14:16
So I'm just again, I I get the concern that units have that this would change the way they approach politics, but I don't really think it harms your ability to deliver voters.
Candis Tall
1:14:25
I don't actually know if that's true.
1:14:26
Like, a a prime example is Council District 13, right, where this seat, if you look at the registered voters, is over 60% registered democrats.
1:14:35
There's a Republican in that seat right now.
1:14:37
Had their primary only allowed for, you know, the top two, which would which may probably would have ended up being two Democrats, would the Republican have had a chance to compete and actually win that seat?
1:14:48
Probably not.
Diane Savino
1:14:49
Interestingly, that seat flipped that way because of a housing about a housing
Candis Tall
1:14:54
We don't have to talk about those details, but you you get my point.