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Q&A
The impact of money in an open primary system
1:50:11
·
133 sec
Commissioner Grace Bonilla asks Grace Rauh of Citizens Union about the potential impact of money in open primaries.
Rauh argues that money would actually play less of a role in an open system because candidates need to appeal to a much broader electorate.
She contends that closed primaries, with their smaller and more targeted electorates, are more ripe for big spending to have a disproportionate impact.
- Rauh asserts that an open primary system would require candidates to appeal to a wider swath of the electorate, making it harder for big money to sway the outcome.
- She argues that a smaller electorate, as seen in closed primaries, is more susceptible to being influenced by large independent expenditures.
- She also credits New York City's robust public campaign finance system with empowering small-dollar donors and overcoming big money efforts.
Grace Bonilla
1:50:11
Hi.
1:50:11
This question is for Grace.
1:50:13
Thank you for your testimony.
1:50:16
One thing you didn't mention, and I I I often look at the material and data that you put forward, is the impact on some people have been saying that there's this is gonna have an impact if we do open primaries on being much more money will play a larger role in that.
1:50:31
Can you speak to that?
Grace Rauh
1:50:34
We think that money will actually play less of a role in an open primary system.
1:50:40
There are more voters that need to be reached and participate in the process.
1:50:46
It's actually a closed party primary where big spending can have a much larger impact.
1:50:53
Right?
1:50:54
There are fewer voters to reach, and so by opening this up, by ensuring that all registered voters have a role, we are creating circumstances by which the candidates competing to win over New Yorkers need to speak to a much broader swath of the electorate, and the winners that emerge will be much more representative of the city as a whole.
Leila Bozorg
1:51:20
But wouldn't that require more?
1:51:21
I'm I'm not understanding the connection to how that would require less spending.
1:51:26
That would require significantly more to wouldn't I just I'm I'm asking without judgment.
1:51:30
I mean
Grace Rauh
1:51:31
Well, I think we we I can't predict the the future entirely, but I don't believe I think that when you have a smaller electorate, that is ripe for big money to come in and spend and sway voters.
1:51:49
And we've seen that already.
1:51:50
I think the results, though, of our most recent closed primary have showed that the current campaign finance system that we have is incredibly robust, has gone a very long way to empowering small dollar donors, and that giving them a bigger voice in the process through our strong campaign finance system has been able to overcome big money effort super PAC spending that we've seen on a big scale.
Diane Savino
1:52:23
Thank you.