Oregon is one of nine states in the U.S. with completely closed primaries. A proposed measure would open primaries to 1 million non-affiliated voters.

The 2024 campaign has begun for a constitutional amendment that would change the state’s primary election of 2026.

Ranked choice voting would liberate voters to select their favorite candidates without fear of spoilers and split votes causing the wrong candidate to win

While nonaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson appears to be third in polling, her candidacy reflects a breakthrough in a state where the two major political parties have near total control over who appears on the November ballot, the editorial board writes. While Democrats are casting her as a spoiler candidate, they – and Republicans – should recognize that it's long past time to open up their primaries and give 41% of Oregon voters a greater say in who their top candidates are.