Jeff Ward: Purity Tests ‘Horrendous’

Jeff Ward: Jennifer (Locke), that component of our horrendous state election laws (that Central Committees can decide whether a candidate in a GOP primary is truly a Republican)  is a holdover from the days before party registration. In the current environment I oppose any attempt to deny the voters a choice on election day. It is inconceivable that the Central Committee would have the power to declare opponents to incumbent precinct committeeman “non-republicans.” Had that power been executed four years ago many of the current Committee members like Bjorn Handeen and Phil Hart, would have been disallowed because a history on involvement in other political parties.

• Also: You can read Jeff’s Tuesday newsletter re: the proposed resolution to create a purity gauntlet for local Republican candidates here.

Question: Are you surprised that the purity test resolution proposed by Precinct Committeeman Bjorn Handeen failed so badly?