{"id":2440551,"date":"2025-05-29T17:33:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T21:33:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawsuit-alleges-maryland-closed-primary-elections-are-unconstitutional-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-05-29T17:34:20","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T21:34:20","slug":"lawsuit-alleges-maryland-closed-primary-elections-are-unconstitutional-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawsuit-alleges-maryland-closed-primary-elections-are-unconstitutional-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawsuit alleges Maryland closed primary elections are unconstitutional &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flawsuit-alleges-maryland-closed-primary-elections-are-unconstitutional-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2440551&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A Maryland resident has filed a lawsuit against the state and its Board of Elections, claiming that the state&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maha-movement-needs-to-get-our-kids-moving-joe-concha\/\" title=\"MAHA movement needs to \u2018get our kids moving\u2019: Joe Concha\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-senate-seats-most-likely-to-flip-in-2022\/\" title=\"The Senate Seats Most Likely to Flip in 2022\">closed primary<\/a> elections<\/a> are unconstitutional. Central to the lawsuit is the argument that the Maryland constitution guarantees the right to vote in all elections, which allegedly excludes the state&#8217;s significant number of autonomous voters-960,000, or 22% of the electorate. Advocates argue that every citizen should have the right to participate in public elections, highlighting a growing concern about voter inclusion. Maryland is among the 14 states that <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >utilize closed primaries<\/a>, a practice believed to prevent party interference in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-minority-leader-mccarthy-speaks-highly-of-president-trump-after-previous-critical-comments\/\" title=\"House Minority Leader McCarthy speaks highly of President Trump after previous critical comments\">primary elections<\/a>.The lawsuit precedes the 2026 gubernatorial election, were current Governor Wes Moore is seeking reelection.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Lawsuit alleges Maryland closed primary elections are unconstitutional<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2102062\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maryland\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Maryland<\/a> resident filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lawsuits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">lawsuit<\/a> against the state and its Board of Elections, alleging that the state&rsquo;s law of having a closed primary is unconstitutional.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The legal argument for the lawsuit is based on the state constitution, which guarantees the right to vote in &ldquo;all elections to be held in this State.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3423955\/winsome-earle-sears-meet-republican-candidate-virginia-governor\/\">Who is Winsome Earle-Sears? Meet the Republican candidate for Virginia governor<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3424258\/poll-paxton-cornyn-texas-senate-seat\/\">Poll shows Ken Paxton beating incumbent John Cornyn in heated battle for Texas Senate seat<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3423121\/abigail-spanberger-democratic-candidate-virginia-governor\/\">Who is Abigail Spanberger? Meet the Democratic candidate for Virginia governor<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;We believe it is a fundamental American value that every citizen should have a right to vote in a public election,&rdquo; Jeremy Gruber, Open Primaries senior vice president, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/dc-md-va\/2025\/05\/29\/lawsuit-primary-election-maryland\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">told<\/a> the <em>Washington Post<\/em>. &ldquo;We all pay for them as taxpayers, but independent voters by the millions are being shut out of public elections. It&rsquo;s a voting crisis in this country.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Maryland is one of 14 states with a closed primary, the rationale behind such a primary being that it prevents members of the opposing party from influencing the results of the other primary elections.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3423822\/trump-administration-seeks-abrego-garcia-dismiss-case-deportation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SEEKS TO DISMISS LAWSUIT OVER ABREGO GARCIA&rsquo;S DEPORTATION <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There are 960,000 independent voters in the state, and between 2012 and 2025, the number of independent voters increased from 16% to 22%.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit comes ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial election in the state, in which Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) is vying for reelection.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2102062\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2102062\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lawsuit claims Maryland&#8217;s closed primaries violate the constitution<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2542,"featured_media":2440552,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/voting-election-ballot-measures-coming-back-2026.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[56158,4585,4837,5803,32076],"class_list":["post-2440551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-closed-primary-elections","tag-lawsuit","tag-maryland","tag-unconstitutional","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/voting-election-ballot-measures-coming-back-2026.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2440551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2542"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2440551"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2440551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2440555,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2440551\/revisions\/2440555"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2440552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2440551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2440551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2440551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}