Democrats are ramping up efforts to curtail the influence of independent candidates by pushing for ranked choice voting (RCV). At the recent DNC “Demopolooza,” the Democratic National Committee featured FAIRVOTE, a group advocating for RCV, which allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. Although FAIRVOTE claims to be nonpartisan, their presence at the DNC event underscores a strategic move by Democrats to weaken third-party challenges.

The DNC’s interest in RCV seems strategically aligned with the current political landscape, particularly in light of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent run. Kennedy, once a Democratic hopeful, now represents a more traditional Democratic stance, contrasting sharply with the party’s shift towards figures like Kamala Harris, known for her progressive policies. 

Photo: Flyer handed out at DNC sponsored event drags independent candidate RFK Jr. 

FAIRVOTE’s presence at the DNC event, distributing flyers and engaging with attendees, emphasized that RCV could prevent votes for third-party or independent candidates from being “wasted,” allowing voters to rank their favorite candidates first while still supporting major party candidates as backups. Conversations at the booth revealed an underlying belief that Democrats stand to gain the most from this voting system, suggesting a tactical move to retain voter support amidst rising third-party challenges.

This push for RCV by Democrats could be seen as an attempt to manage electoral dynamics, ensuring that votes for candidates like Kennedy do not inadvertently benefit Republicans, thus maintaining Democratic competitiveness in a fragmented political field.