Primary Reform: A New Proposal

[DabbingSanta]

All 50 states + territories + DC vote at once. If a candidate gets over 50% of the vote, they win the nomination.

If no candidate reaches 50%, the top two candidates get a runoff election, maybe a month or two after the original primary. Whoever wins the runoff wins the nomination.

This would work similar to the jungle primary system we see in some southern states, except it would be implemented at the national level.

I just thought of this. Let me know what you all think.

Some positives: No focus on any particular state, forces candidates to be favored by majority of the electorate.

Negatives: Limits potential for grassroot campaigns being successful. 

[DabbingSanta]

Past primary season outcomes with my proposal.  

2020:

Trump wins in the first round.

No candidate reaches 50%. Sanders and Biden get a runoff.  Biden wins.

2016:

No candidate reaches 50%. Trump and Cruz get a runoff.  This could have gone either way.

Clinton narrowly wins in the first round, getting 51-52% of the vote.

2012:

No candidate reaches 50%. Romney and Gingrich get a runoff.  Romney wins.

Obama wins in the first round.

2008:

No candidate reaches 50%. McCain and Huckabee get a runoff.  McCain wins.

No candidate reaches 50%. Clinton and Obama get a runoff.  Obama wins.