Choosing How We Choose: Alternative Methods for Candidate Selection

Featuring

[Moderator] Matt Germer, Director, Governance Program, R Street Institute

Jordan Teuscher, Member of the Utah House of Representatives 

Beth Hladick, Policy Director, Unite America

Drew Penrose, Policy Advocate, Protect Democracy

Jonathan Madison, Governance Fellow, R Street Institute

Overview

With the 2026 midterm elections approaching and primary contests already underway, more people are beginning to pay attention to how candidates are selected in the United States. In many districts, general elections are effectively not competitive, making primary elections the decisive stage of the electoral process. Yet primary elections often suffer from low participation, limited accessibility, and voter dissatisfaction with general election ballot choices.

This event will bring together proponents of a range of distinct reforms to the candidate selection process. It is an opportunity for advocates of different models to clearly present their respective visions, explain the problems they seek to address, and engage in a broader discussion about the strengths and limitations of existing institutions. By examining these reform proposals alongside one another, our goal is to foster a deeper understanding of the movement to rethink candidate selection and how representation functions in the United States.