Primary upheaval

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A ballot proposal that would eliminate political party primaries for state elections got the go-ahead from the Supreme Judicial Court on Monday, sending it along on its path to potentially go before voters in November.

The measure would overhaul the way Massachusetts' state elections operate, creating a single primary system in which all candidates are listed on one ballot and voters would be able to choose any candidate regardless of their party affiliation. The top two candidates with the most votes would move onto the general election.

The bipartisan-backed campaign behind the proposal, the Coalition for Healthy Democracy, claims it’s a solution to a system "dominated by party insiders." Organizers have said an all-party primary system would increase voter participation and election competition, while reducing gaps in voter turnout.

The political establishment, however, isn't so into it. Both parties have dubbed the measure "misguided."

MassGOP in a Monday statement said it "would undermine core democratic principles by eroding the ability of political parties to select their own nominees, marginalizing smaller parties, stifling ideological diversity, suppressing general-election turnout, and amplifying the role of big money while disadvantaging grassroots efforts."

And from MassDems: "We've seen the unintended consequences of all-party primaries in other states: general elections between two candidates from the same party, smaller parties shut out entirely, and grassroots candidates who simply can't compete against self-funded opponents," Chair Steve Kerrigan said in a statement.

"This ballot question was created to solve a problem that doesn't exist in Massachusetts. Unenrolled voters, the largest bloc in the Commonwealth, can already walk in on primary day and choose either party's ballot," Kerrigan continued.

Coalition for Healthy Democracy Chair Jesse Littlewood said the campaign submitted more than 20,000 raw signatures to local elections offices following its second round of signature gathering — well beyond the required 12,429 — and is "in a strong position for November." Those signatures have to be submitted to the secretary of state's office by July 1 and certified at the state level in order for questions to move forward.

"Massachusetts has the least competitive elections in America, and when politicians don’t have to compete, they don’t have to fix what’s broken," Littlewood said in a statement following the ruling. "All-Party Primaries replace the restrictive, privately controlled party primary system with one open to every voter and every candidate, regardless of affiliation…"

Ella Adams is a reporter for the State House News Service. Reach her at [email protected].

HAPPENING TODAY

9:00 | Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meets. Members will discuss and vote on regulations dealing with special education and interpretation and translation services. The board will also vote on a report about conditions imposed on Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School in Hadley | 135 Santilli Highway, Everett | Livestream

11:00 | AG Campbell appears on GBH Boston Public Radio’s “Ask the AG” | GBH Radio

11:00 | Stop the Repeal Campaign, made up of dispensary owners, health care professionals, law enforcement and others, launches in opposition against the ballot question that would repeal adult-use recreational marijuana | State House steps

11:00 | Senate meets in an informal session | Senate Chamber | Agenda

12:00 | Gov. Healey visits Worcester Boys & Girls Club to "send off" young people as they travel to Boston Stadium to attend the World Cup match between England and Ghana | Boys & Girls Club of Worcester, 65 Boys & Girls Club Way, Worcester

12:00 | Boston Mayor Wu will kick off a fan march "ahead of Ghana’s FIFA World Cup match," according to the mayor's office | Boston Common, 139 Tremont Street, Downtown

4:00 | England and Ghana face off in a FIFA World Cup match | "Boston Stadium," 1 Patriot Place, Foxborough | More Info

6:00 | Allston Multimodal Transportation Project Task Force holds a hybrid meeting | MassDOT Board Room, 2nd Floor, 10 Park Plaza, Boston | Register

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FROM BEACON HILL

DRIVERS ON POTENTIAL EV REQUIREMENT: Rideshare drivers don’t favor a proposed rule that would require those of them who rent cars from companies like Uber and Lyft to only use electric vehicles, saying they’d “lose money” during the time it takes to charge the cars. — GBH

REVISITING CRUMBLING CONCRETE: After years of asking lawmakers to help them address crumbling concrete foundations, homeowners returned to the State House on Monday to continue their pleas. — State House News Service

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As Summer Power Demand Builds, National Grid’s Work to Keep Massachusetts Running Is Already Underway

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PAROLE BOARD DENIAL: The parole board on Monday denied parole for Jose Anibal Colon, 63, who was convicted of killing State Trooper George Hannah in 1983. — Boston Globe

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DUDLEY SEEKS $: The town of Dudley is seeking an agreement with Nichols College for an annual payment in lieu of taxes as a way to get revenue. — Telegram & Gazette

$3.5M OVERRIDE, BACKED: The South Hadley Select Board threw its support behind a proposed $3.5 million Proposition 2 ½ override, which puts it a step closer to the fall ballot box. — Daily Hampshire Gazette

‘BOSTON BRAIN TRUST’: A team of doctors and activists are seeking the help of Pope Leo XIV as they organize a global summit in July at his retreat outside of Rome, meant to address the “intertwining threat” of AI and nuclear war. — Boston Globe

Ask your Senator to support S. 1114 and S. 1124 for Clean Slate legislation because an old CORI should not mean a lifetime of blocked opportunities.

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