(Cross-posted from Hick Christian's Substack)
The Hidden Impacts of Open Primaries: A Missouri Case Study
By David Rice
Missouri's open primary system presents a complex web of political implications that extend far beyond simple voter accessibility. Recent evidence from Missouri's 1st Legislative District race between Jeff Farnan and Michelle Horner illuminates concerning patterns that raise questions about the actual beneficiaries of open primaries.
The Fundamental Problems of Open Primaries
District 1 is a Case Study
The
core vulnerability of open primaries lies in their susceptibility to
strategic voting manipulation. With no party registration requirements,
voters can freely participate in any party's primary, potentially
diluting the voice of committed party members. In Missouri's 6th
Congressional District, unusually high primary turnout patterns suggest
organized voting behavior that violates traditional party lines.
County Registered Voters /Votes Cast /Vote Percentage
Atchison: 3,783 1,326 35.1%
Gentry: 4,670 1,808 38.7%
Holt: 3,207 962 30.0%
Nodaway: 13,252 4,014 30.3%
This phenomenon becomes particularly visible in rural districts, where relatively small voter populations make strategic voting more impactful. The Farnan-Horner race provides a compelling example, with turnout numbers significantly higher than typical primary participation rates.
Farnan vs. Horner County Results:
Atchison: 1,012 vs 314
Gentry: 1,327 vs 471
Holt: 713 vs 249
Nodaway: 3,234 vs 790
The Dual Beneficiaries
Strategic Advantage for Opposition Voters
Democrats in predominantly Republican districts can effectively influence Republican primary outcomes by voting for candidates they perceive as more moderate or amenable to their interests. This creates a scenario where the eventual Republican nominee may not truly represent core Republican voter interests.
[FIGURE 4: Insert flowchart showing how cross-party voting influences primary outcomes]
Power Brokers and Financial Interests
Perhaps more concerning is how open primaries benefit political power brokers like Steven Tilley, Rex Sinquefield, Axiom Strategies, or Americans for Prosperity. The system allows influential lobbyists and financiers to exert control through multiple channels.
Just one man, like Steven Tilley, influences every organization. Add the effects of the other financiers, and you create an exponential impact on our political system.
They touch everything:
- Lobbying relationships with every powerful politician
- PAC connections
- Legislative influence
- Ethics Commission relationships
The Pressing Questions
Given these findings, several critical questions emerge:
1. Why does Missouri maintain an open primary system despite clear evidence of potential manipulation?
2. How do these dynamics affect true representative democracy in rural districts?
3. Who truly benefits from maintaining the current system?
4. What role do financial interests play in preserving open primaries?
5. Why is Jeff Farnan able to co-sponsor an anti-gun bill (HB 32) with a Democrat, and the party scrubs it from his House Website?
Think about how powerful Farnan’s protectors are in this regard. Think about how important it is for them to continue to have Farnan elected.
Think how Orwellian this is. Think how despicable this thought control—from the Super Majority Republican Party.
Yet, he’s only one person. They are more than willing to do this for every Knock-Off Chinese Republican that will vote with Kehoe. Your Republican party isn’t Republican, nor is it Conservative or Constitutional.
Conclusion
The evidence suggests that Missouri's open primary system may function less as a tool for voter empowerment and more as a mechanism for external influence in local politics.
The unusual voting patterns in District 1 and the complex political relationships revealed through the Tilley/Sinquefield investigation web of finances indicate a state-wide system that undermines rather than enhances Representative Representation.
Democrats openly vote in your primaries. They openly influence your selections of candidates. And they openly finance your candidates through lobbyists and financiers. When you go vote on November 5th, you aren’t voting for Republicans. You’re voting for people with an R next to their name.
I know you are going to the poll on November 5th to vote for Kehoe over Quade, thinking you are saving the State. The thing is, you’ve already lost.
The state was rigged against you in the Primary. They chose your Democrat candidate for you when you were trying to swear up and down Ashcr@ft was a “good Christian man.”
Why doesn’t Jess Piper run in District 1? Because it would be running against another Democrat.
Why don’t they put up a better Democrat against Kehoe than Quade? Because they know it would be a waste of a good Democrat.
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