Why Democrats are fighting over ranked choice voting in the 2028 election

In May, the DNC's powerful Rules and Bylaws Committee (RBC) advanced a proposed amendment to the 2028 presidential primary rules that would, if a state chooses to use ranked choice voting, effectively ignore any candidates not ranked number one on ballots. On Saturday, that amendment will go before the entire DNC, which will vote whether to formalize the rule, as well as settle on the presidential primary calendar.

Proponents of the amendment argue that the practice suits a winner-take-all system and does not align with the DNC's presidential primary rules, which use proportional allocation of delegates to candidates according to their vote share. State party leaders where ranked choice voting is enshrined into law disagree. They also believe the RBC did not adequately allow them to argue otherwise and is thus operating counter to the overall state party-first strategy of DNC Chair Ken Martin.

"There's no question that the DNC under this chair has been very supportive of state parties and of our efforts to mobilize our voters locally," Maine Democratic Party Chair Charles Dingman told Newsweek. "We did not have an opportunity as states that use ranked choice voting to engage with the Rules and Bylaws Committee on this specific issue this year."

Martin has funneled $1 million each month to the state parties at the expense of the DNC's balance sheet. Though DNC fundraising has outpaced 2018 levels, it has just $16.3 million in cash on hand and over $18 million of debt, a reality that doesn't make for favorable headlines when compared to the RNCs $128 million war chest.

"For the party that's hedged its entire midterm strategy on propping up state parties, it's ironic that Ken Martin and the DNC continue to sabotage states by rigging the presidential primary calendar, stomping on ranked choice voting, and kneecapping candidates who threaten their tight-fisted control," RNC National Press Secretary Natalie Baldassarre told Newsweek in a statement. "There's a reason Ken Martin is on the outs, but if he needs some words of encouragement he can look to the RNC where we think he's doing a fantastic job."

Elaine Kamarck, a DNC member from Virginia, said while she favors ranked choice voting broadly, she supported the measure because ranked choice voting is better suited for a winner-take-all system. "If we moved back and we allowed states to be winner-take-all, okay, then I think possibly this would work," she said. "But right now, in this system, with proportional representation, which is outlined in rule 14, I just don't think it works."

After more than an hour of debate and a failed 22-24 motion to postpone, the committee voted 28-14 to advance the amendment. Alaska, Hawaii, Kansas, Nevada and Wyoming have used ranked choice voting in the presidential primary since 2020, and Maine started in 2024. Of those states, only Nevada has representation on the 33-person committee, with two members.

Alaska Democratic Party Chair Eric Croft told Newsweek: "I am very worried if the DNC decides to lock arms with the RNC in opposition to this reform that we get grouped in with the bad guys because up to this date, they've let the states decide."