Why Skipping Primaries Is Like Letting Someone Else Pick Your Netflix Show 🎬
We’ve all been there—standing in line on Election Day, staring at a ballot filled with candidates that make you wonder, “How did we end up with these people?” Let me introduce you to the actual stage where the game is played: the primaries. While most folks save their voting energy for November, the primaries are where the magic—or, let’s face it, the mischief—happens. This is where you get to choose who makes it to the big dance, and if you don’t show up, don’t be surprised when the candidates on your ballot are ones you didn’t ask for.
As Bradley Tusk points out in his book Vote With Your Phone, primaries have an outsized impact on our political landscape. Tusk highlights their critical role: “This small minority of primary voters pick the nominees that the rest of us are then forced to choose between in the general elections.” Let that sink in. A tiny fraction of voters—often the most ideologically extreme—are determining who will be on that final ballot. So, if you’re one of the 90% who skips the primaries, congratulations—you’ve left the decision-making to someone else.
Local Politics is Where the Action Happens
Former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill once said, “All politics is local.” And it’s genuine—local issues, from school budgets to zoning regulations, often affect our daily lives far more than any national policy. That’s why primaries matter so much, especially at the local level. It’s also why the candidates from primaries often reflect the most vocal and active constituencies—those who show up.
Take a cue from Obama, who once said, “The most important office in a democracy is the office of citizen.” He wasn’t kidding. Voting is your chance to directly shape the policies that affect your life, and yet so many of us skip the primaries, the very place where our votes count most. In many local races, the general election is often just a formality—by the time November rolls around, the real decision has already been made.
Thomas Jefferson summed it up best: “The government closest to the people serves the people best.” Your local representatives, those chosen in primary elections, are often the ones making decisions that impact your day-to-day life—like whether potholes get filled on Scott Swamp Road (I’m looking at you, Farmington). By the time the general election rolls around, your choices have been narrowed down by the loudest and most engaged minority. Is it any wonder why we feel so uninspired by the options?
Primaries: Where Your Vote Counts Most
Here’s the thing—voting in the primary gives you more power. Why? Because fewer people participate, so your voice matters more. Primaries are like the early rounds of a sports tournament. If you wait until the final game (the general election), you’ve missed your chance to influence who’s playing. Fiorello La Guardia, the former Mayor of New York City, famously said, “There is no Democratic or Republican way of cleaning the streets.” Local governance, at its core, is about pragmatism and solutions, not partisanship. And yet, we let primaries get dominated by the most extreme voices. Why? Because they show up, and most of us don’t.
If more of us voted in the primaries, we’d see more centrist candidates who better represent the whole community, not just the extremes. As Tusk points out, “If a larger group of voters participates, it will reflect the mainstream.” It’s not about left or right—it’s about getting leaders who want to get things done.
Want Change? Show Up to the Primaries
In Farmington, it’s easy to stay informed and engaged. You can track all the local races by following our comprehensive coverage here. These are the elections where your vote can have the most direct impact, especially in a town like ours, where community participation is key.
And while you’re planning your civic engagement, let’s give a special shoutout to our sponsor, Farmington Storage, where your belongings can enjoy museum-quality air—because who doesn’t want their old stuff preserved like a Rembrandt? Just remember, the next time you drive past Scott Swamp Road, there’s a climate-controlled masterpiece waiting for you.
Stay Informed, Stay Involved
We’re here to help you make sense of it all. From primaries to local zoning decisions, The Farmington Mercury has your back. Stay informed by subscribing to our newsletter here, and never miss an election that could shape the future of our town. We might be “always last to breaking news,” but that just means we take our time getting you the stories that really matter.
