Ex-Michigan party leaders: Time to ditch nominating conventions

LANSING — Former Michigan Democratic and Republican party officials are teaming up in an effort to eliminate candidate nominating conventions for top state offices, arguing the practice disenfranchises voters.

The goal? Get the Legislature to put a question on the November ballot asking voters if they’d prefer to nominate candidates for secretary of state, attorney general and potentially other statewide offices through primary elections instead.

Doing so would require an amendment to the Michigan Constitution, which currently requires candidates for some offices to be nominated at major political party conventions.

“I think there’s a desire for both parties to stop pendulum politics, which ultimately results in pendulum governing,” said former Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Lon Johnson, who is working with former Michigan GOP Executive Director Jason Roe on a potential proposal.




https://bridgemi.com/michigan-government/ex-michigan-party-leaders-time-to-ditch-nominating-conventions/