But they are still running primaries? If talking about the presidential specifically, they did a typical primary in 2020 and sure in 2024 it was not done, but we’ve got people blaming “real primaries” against incumbents for losses in 76, 80, and 92 and neither party does it as a result.
It is, as others have said, a backwards cause and effect. Weak candidates are more likely to have an incumbent primary forced on them. It makes more sense to run primaries every election because it will allow candidates more actual screen time.
Look at it this way. Of the last 2 elections the party that ran a primary won both times. If you do the last 20 years only Obama won election without a primary. Thats 33% odds of a no primary win.
They stopped running primaries because they almost lost control of the party to Bernie Sanders in 2016.
The DNC will never make that mistake again. It made their doners very upset.
But they are still running primaries? If talking about the presidential specifically, they did a typical primary in 2020 and sure in 2024 it was not done, but we’ve got people blaming “real primaries” against incumbents for losses in 76, 80, and 92 and neither party does it as a result.
It is, as others have said, a backwards cause and effect. Weak candidates are more likely to have an incumbent primary forced on them. It makes more sense to run primaries every election because it will allow candidates more actual screen time.
Look at it this way. Of the last 2 elections the party that ran a primary won both times. If you do the last 20 years only Obama won election without a primary. Thats 33% odds of a no primary win.