Chairman Carnahan Testifies in Favor of

Returning Missouri Presidential Elections Back to Primaries

Kansas City, Mo - In his first week as chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party (MDP) Chairman Russ Carnahan testifies before the Missouri House of Representatives in favor of HB 347, which aims to Reinstate Presidential Primaries. “The national momentum has shifted away from caucuses for a reason,” said Carnahan. “Caucuses can create barriers for people to vote who may have additional circumstances to overcome. The fewer people who participate in our elections the more it decreases the confidence in our democracy.” 

According to the Missouri House Democratic Caucus, only Iowa, North Dakota, and small US territories like Guam and the Virgin Islands still hold caucuses. (Wyoming Dems hold caucuses; Wyoming Republicans vote at their state convention).

The Missouri Democratic Party strongly supports returning to primaries, because caucuses are inherently undemocratic because they limit participation in the political process. While presidential primaries encourage voters to make their voices heard on who will best represent their party on a national ticket, caucuses only allow the most devoted party members to participate in the political process. 

MDP also supports HB 347 for the following reason:

• Caucuses limit the participation of working Missourians. Since caucuses occur at scheduled places and times, they lack the flexibility of primaries where voters have all of Election Day (and now the preceding weeks with no-excuse absentee) to cast their ballot. This quality of caucuses hurts participation for people who cannot make their local meeting if they’re working, sick, or unable to attend that specific meeting for other reasons.
• Caucuses often leave behind attendees who need special accommodations.
• Caucus participation also may not accurately reflect the make-up of the electorate.



MDP also questions the logistics of running caucuses; as State Party officials are not as good at conducting elections as professional, full-time election officials like the Secretary of State and county clerks. As we saw in 2020 in Iowa and Nevada, a lack of experience breeds problems that eroded public trust in the election process.

In addition, political parties lack the transparency, oversight, and regulations that local and state election authorities are required to have. Caucuses organized and run by private political parties would not be subject to the same requirements as county clerks or the Secretary of State, allowing them to completely control the process. 

Missouri has not held a caucus since the 1996 presidential election; that’s 27 years of experience that will be erased and will confuse voters on both sides of the aisle. That’s why the Missouri Democratic Party strongly urges lawmakers to vote in favor of HB 347. 

Paid for by the Missouri Democratic State Committee, Glenda Bainbridge, Treasurer. www.missouridemocrats.org.

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