Lawmakers in Pennsylvania want to change the way candidates win primary races so that the results reflect a larger share of voters.
Sens. Ryan Aument, R-Lancaster, and Frank Farry, R-Bucks, plan to introduce legislation they say would achieve that goal by using a primary runoff system in state and federal primaries – not in county or municipal races.
“There is a high urgency to reform primary elections in Pennsylvania, because our ability to solve any problems – from education to state budget negotiations to inflation – rests on our ability to elect good leaders,” Aument told The Center Square.
Aument said citizens do not benefit and better results will not be achieved “if we continue to use an election system that allows our parties to nominate inept candidates who are unable or unwilling to work collaboratively to solve problems for the people of Pennsylvania.”
In recent years, the state’s primary elections have attracted a large number of candidates. As a result, under the current system, a candidate can win while receiving only a small portion of votes.
Aument cited statistics showing that nearly every candidate who ran for governor or U.S. senator in Pennsylvania in the last 50 years lost in the general election if they failed to secure at least 50% of their party’s vote in the primaries.
Candidates with only 30% support “will not be able to win statewide elections and they certainly will not be able to bring people together to actually get things done,” said Aument.
