A Huge Step in Connecticut
Hello, I hope all is great! I'm writing this from Missouri, where I met with democracy reform activists and Forward Party volunteers. It's been a phenomenal trip.
As you know, I have become convinced that Ranked Choice Voting is one of the keys to improving our politics and incentives. It will decrease polarization and give rise to new points of view. Millions of Americans are digging into RCV for the first time since the Alaska special election last week. And this Wednesday the Governor of Connecticut, Ned Lamont, endorsed Ranked Choice Voting and pledged to bring a bill to a vote in the Constitution State.
Why is Ranked Choice Voting suddenly a relevant issue in the Connecticut gubernatorial race? It’s the result of years of hard work.
In 2018, Oz Griebel and Monte Frank ran on a joint ticket for Governor, receiving nearly 55,000 votes and qualifying a new political party, the Griebel-Frank for CT Party. This gave the party a ballot line in Connecticut, which is a fusion voting state (i.e. each party puts its chosen candidates on its ballot line). The Griebel-Frank for CT Party is affiliated with the Serve America Movement, one of the orgs that merged to form the new Forward Party in July.
Both Ned Lamont and his opponent Bob Stefanowski wanted this ballot line – it’s probably worth a few points in the election in November. The condition for the endorsement was support for Ranked Choice Voting. Thus, the governor’s announcement on Wednesday, four years in the making.
There are a couple big lessons here. First, a third party like the Forward Party can influence policy and reforms without winning a race. Imagine if candidates knew in states around the country that coming out for Ranked Choice Voting is worth a few points because of our endorsement. States around the country could adopt Ranked Choice Voting because candidates see it as a winning issue.
Second, the political system responds to politics. Oz Griebel ran for Governor twice and activists worked for years in Connecticut, going so far as to run a gubernatorial ticket that got 4% of the vote. That gave them a seat at the table and the ability to influence policy in a way many could only dream of.
Can what happened in Connecticut happen in states around the country? Yes, but only if we put in the work. Here in Missouri, it takes 10,000 signatures to get on the ballot. The Forward Party aims to be on the ballot in 15 states by year-end and 30 by the end of 2023. A few years from now we could be celebrating what happened in Connecticut this week as the new normal as incumbents and candidates alike embrace Ranked Choice Voting for the simplest of reasons – they want to win the election in front of them.
How do we change the system? Make changing the system the way to win. Alaska is getting a lot of attention right now, but what's happening in Connecticut could be even more of a roadmap for us to follow. Let's go get some signatures!
