Closing ranks: As more AZ independents vote in primary, GOP eyes closing them

The number of independents voting in the partisan primary election on Aug. 26 is expected to surge this year. And with nearly all the primary election action concentrated on the Republican side, independents are overwhelmingly choosing to vote in the GOP primary. As a result, Republican Party leaders are concerned about independents’ potential to water down the party’s influence and lead to more moderate Republicans getting nominated.

Republican leaders are reacting by attempting to close the GOP primary system to independents in 2016 and beyond. The approach would be to allow only registered Republicans to vote in the primary or move to a caucus system in which the precinct committeemen choose the Republican nominee for office. Maricopa County Republican Party Chair A.J. LaFaro is one of many Republicans calling for closing the primary to fend off the moderating influence of independents. He argues that closing the primary or moving to a caucus system would give Republicans the ability to hold accountable candidates who are Republicans in name only. And the movement — motivated by fear that independents will help select candidates who are not faithful to the Republican Party platform — is gaining momentum. “The nominating process, I think, should be reserved for those individuals who are of the party,” LaFaro said. “We’ll absolutely be looking very hard for that before the (2016) election.”

Hank Stephenson, Arizona Capitol Times To read more click here.