The Independent Voter Project. Making the system more fair. Talking with Chad Peace, Co-Founder.

·55 min·5 clips

A record 45% of U.S. adults are political independents, yet polarization is rising—what explains this contradiction?

The episode begins with host Jim Herlihy citing a Gallup survey that 45% of U.S. adults identify as political independents, setting up a discussion on electoral reform. Guest Chad Peace explains the origins of the Independent Voter Project, formed about 15 years ago by bipartisan figures to combat partisan gridlock. He details Proposition 14, which created California's nonpartisan 'top two' primary, often called a 'jungle primary' by critics. Peace addresses media speculation that two Republicans could advance in California's upcoming gubernatorial primary, arguing this is unlikely based on polling crosstabs. The conversation shifts to legal strategies, with IVP filing a First Amendment lawsuit in New Jersey challenging closed primaries that exclude independent voters. Peace references the Supreme Court case Democratic Party v. Jones, where Justice Scalia suggested nonpartisan primaries as an alternative. He discusses California's historical role in progressive-era reforms, like introducing primaries to reduce party boss control. The episode explores ranked choice voting, noting its use in San Francisco, Alaska, and Maine, and how IVP helped bridge divides between open primary and ranked choice voting advocates. Peace explains the 'top four' system in Alaska as a hybrid model. On voter ID, he analyzes polling showing 80% support but notes implementation distrust often blocks passage. The discussion covers mail-in voting, with Peace cautioning about guardrails needed in large states like California. He concludes by predicting continued growth in independent identification, especially among younger voters, and mentions IVP's potential future initiative to enshrine equal voting rights in primaries.

As heard by us

A clear look at independent voters, open primaries, and the reform case around Prop 14.

The episode centers on a political contradiction: 45% of U.S. adults identified as independents in a 2025 Gallup survey, while Republicans and Democrats each stood at 27% and the broader system felt increasingly polarized.

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Want a clearer read on why independent voters are pushing against party-run election rules?

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