The controversy over the New Hampshire open major system units the stage for a battle in West Virginia as conservatives there search to shut the state’s major elections quickly.
Former President Donald Trump defeated former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley by double digits on Tuesday night time, making him the primary non-incumbent to win each the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire major.
Trump trumped Haley regardless of the Granite State having an open major system, which implies that Democrats can legally cross over and vote within the GOP major. Seventy p.c of Haley voters weren’t registered Republicans.
“Unaffiliated voters made up barely lower than half of the voters (47%) and broke for Haley by 26 factors,” Fox Information reported.
Now, the West Virginia Republican Celebration Government Committee will reportedly meet on Saturday, the place it is going to take into account a proposal to limit the first elections, together with the one for Might, to solely registered Republicans. This may have an enormous sway within the combative elections for governor and senate.
The state Republican and Democrat events, practically 30-years-ago, opened their primaries to unbiased voters, or non-affiliated voters, to broaden their attraction. Twenty-five p.c of all registered voters within the state are non-affiliated.
Native Republican lawmakers have contended that the open major system has value Republicans seats as a consequence of Democrats interfering.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Eric Tarr (R-Putnam) stated, “I can see the professionals and cons on each side, however I’m now on the facet of that we must always shut primaries.” He added:
Historically what has occurred in Republican elections is that about two-thirds of the non-parties would vote in our primaries and about one-third would vote within the Democrat facet of it. However what we’ve seen in a pair elections previously is that potential to maneuver that third that usually votes within the Democrat major over a Republican major has value us seats on the native degree and state races.
Conservative pundits have largely declared that solely registered Republicans ought to vote in GOP primaries.
Donald Trump Jr. wrote, “Why are Republicans even permitting Democrats to infiltrate GOP Primaries like this? We want closed GOP primaries in each state throughout the nation, so its solely Republicans voting in them. Democrats shouldn’t get a say in who Republicans nominate!!!”
Why are Republicans even permitting Democrats to infiltrate GOP Primaries like this?
We want closed GOP primaries in each state throughout the nation, so its solely Republicans voting in them. Democrats should not get a say in who Republicans nominate!!! https://t.co/4poM1AyPkH
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 24, 2024
Turning Level USA founder Charlie Kirk wrote, “Extremely-liberal Hanover, NH had simply 841 Republican votes within the 2020 normal election. Tonight, the identical city has 1,472 votes for Nikki Haley. That is Democrat election interference, enabled by an insane open-primary system.”
Extremely-liberal Hanover, NH had simply 841 Republican votes within the 2020 normal election. Tonight, the identical city has 1,472 votes for Nikki Haley.
That is Democrat election interference, enabled by an insane open-primary system.
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) January 24, 2024
Sean Moran is a coverage reporter for Breitbart Information. Comply with him on Twitter @SeanMoran3.