Pennsylvania Primary Shows Closed System: Why CGP Backs Open Democracy for All Voters

What Happened

Pennsylvania held its 2026 primary election on Tuesday, with voters casting ballots for Democratic and Republican nominees for governor, U.S. House, and state offices. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity ran unopposed in their respective gubernatorial primaries, setting up what CBS News reports will be an expensive general election race—Shapiro outraised Garrity 10 to 1 in the first three months of 2026. Notable U.S. House winners included Chris Rabb in Philadelphia's 3rd District and Rep. Summer Lee in Pittsburgh's 12th District.

Why This Matters for Democracy

The article notes that Pennsylvania has closed primaries, meaning only registered Democrats or Republicans can participate in their respective parties' elections. This is a critical democratic access issue. In a state of 13+ million people, millions of independent voters, third-party members, and unaffiliated citizens cannot directly shape which candidates appear on the general election ballot—even though they will be asked to vote in November and will live under the policies these primary winners enact.

Connection to CGP Policy

The Common Good Party's Voting Rights platform holds that "democracy only works when every citizen can participate." Closed primaries are a structural barrier to that participation. When primaries—often the decisive contest in safe districts—exclude independents and minorities, they reduce the electorate and narrow the range of voices candidates must appeal to. This can entrench polarization and reduce accountability to the broader public.

CGP advocates for open primary systems where all registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, can participate in all primary contests. This expands the electorate, encourages candidates to build broader coalitions, and ensures that taxpayer-funded elections serve all voters, not just partisan bases.

Pennsylvania's divided legislature (Democrats control the House; Republicans control the Senate) reflects deep polarization—a structure that closed primaries help perpetuate by allowing each party to mobilize its base without needing to appeal across party lines.