Proposition 1 started at a dinner conversation between me, my wife, and our friends Zeke and AnnMarie Johnson. We discussed the state of politics, how it’d become so polarized, and what we could do about it. We knew the legislature wouldn’t act, so we’d need to take it to the people for a citizen-led initiative. Alaska had just successfully implemented open primaries and ranked choice voting, and I knew it was a model that could work for Idaho.
We connected with grassroots leaders from all political backgrounds, and a movement began to take shape. By May 2023 we launched Idahoans for Open Primaries. I had the privilege of being the first to sign the petition at my kitchen table in Buhl. That small start grew into something far bigger than we could have imagined.
Proposition 1 is on your ballot because 2,000 unpaid volunteers worked tirelessly to gather over 97,000 signatures and knock on 150,000 doors from Idahoans in all 44 counties. And of the donations the initiative received, 93% of contributors are Idahoans who care about their right to vote.
This movement is Idaho through and through. And no, it’s not fueled by an out-of-state, dark money plot—despite what some would have you believe. It’s driven by folks who are tired of watching party bosses and some power-hungry politicians control our elections, united by the belief that Idaho’s elections belong to the people, not to the parties.
And despite statewide citizen support, some powerful politicians fought us at every step. First, by trying to keep Proposition 1 off the ballot, now by spreading fear and lies to turn voters against it. Don’t let them dissuade you—they’re trying to avoid a true general election.
Let’s be clear, ranked choice voting has been endorsed by respected leaders nationally, including Mitt Romney. And 130 Idaho Republican leaders formally endorsed this initiative.
Since serving as Speaker of the House, I’ve seen politics shift. Back then, you had to work together to get things done. I didn’t agree with the House Minority Leader on everything, or even most things. But we respected each other and knew our job was to serve our constituents. So when it came to big issues—education funding, agricultural policy—we found compromises. That’s what real leadership looks like.
Today, Republican lawmakers who even talk to Democrats are branded as "turncoats" or "RINOs." We’ve lost great legislators—steadfast Republican leaders—to this scorched-earth mentality. Instead of working together to solve Idaho’s problems, politicians are digging in their heels and refusing to budge, leaving critical issues unresolved and the people they’re supposed to represent in the lurch.
Proposition 1 is a chance to change the system for the better and keep everyone accountable. Right now, if candidates win the primary, they waltz through the general election. Prop 1 makes
sure every candidate faces a true general election where they’ll need to appeal to all voters, not just a narrow slice. It will incentivize candidates to be civil, to work with their opponents, and to keep their rhetoric in check.
Some bully politicians are fighting against this initiative because they see it as a threat to their power. But I’ve seen the appetite for change from everyday Idahoans who want to return our political system to one that values civility, Idaho’s independent spirit, and above all, service to the people.
We’ve come a long way from that kitchen table. I’m proud of what this true grassroots movement has accomplished and I’m hopeful for the future this initiative will provide for Idaho. Let’s put power back where it belongs—in the hands of the voters.
(2) comments
Just a truly grassroots effort, born at a kitchen table, funded by George Soros and endorsed by Communist Party USA.
If baloney was money, this knucklehead would snow Jeff Bezos under.
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