Sen. Klobuchar Pushes Solution to End the 'Primary Arms Race'
Testimony before Senate Rules Committee seeks to end primary "front-loading" and institute a fair and inclusive process
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) testified before the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration stressing the need to reform the currently chaotic Presidential primary election process. Klobuchar highlighted legislation she introduced in late July with Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) as a sensible step towards fixing a primary process that many have referred to as “a big mess.”
“Primaries were not intended to be an arms race,” said Klobuchar, the lead sponsor of the bill. “We seek to give order to this chaotic, messy, and unrepresentative process. This schedule gives power and influence back to the voters in every state.”
Concerns about the election schedule have gained national attention in recent months as states have "leap-frogged" each other in a race to the front of the calendar. In 2008, at least 25 states will hold their primaries on or before February 5th.
Klobuchar’s legislation, The Presidential Primary and Caucus Reform Act, would provide structure to the primary election and caucuses by establishing a rotating schedule of regional Presidential primaries and caucuses. The reformed system would de-compress the schedule, allowing candidates to focus their time and efforts and giving voters in all states the opportunity to have a powerful voice in the selection of party nominees.
The bill would create a region-by-region primary system where, on a rotating basis, states in the West, Midwest, South, and East take turns hosting the first batch of primaries and caucuses. Beginning in 2012, primaries and caucuses would start on the first Tuesday in March, continuing on the first Tuesday in April, May, and June until each region has chosen candidates for the party conventions. The next presidential election year, a different region would have a chance to go first—rotating through all the regions every 16 years. Iowa and New Hampshire would remain as the historical first caucus and primary in the nation.
“The current schedule undermines the spirit of the primary process,” remarked Klobuchar. “It risks turning our primaries and caucuses into a tarmac campaign, with candidates forced to partake in a blitzkrieg campaign strategy across the entire country. It is time to deescalate the primary arms race and restore the spirit of the primary process that allows for meaningful discussion with voters across the country.”
