Independent Candidate Walden Testifies That Closed Primaries Hurt 1 Million NYC Voters

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2025
(646) 705-3286
sara@jimfornyc.com

 

NEW YORK (July 7, 2025) — Days after Independence Day, Jim Walden, the true independent running for New York City Mayor, testified Monday to the NYC Charter Revision Commission that closed primaries harm New York’s voters and its democracy.

New York’s closed, partisan primary process system shuts out 20% of all registered voters, including half of veterans and half a million voters under 40. New York is one of only six of the largest 30 cities without some form of Open Primary.

“The current closed primary system breeds dissatisfaction with the government,” Walden said, noting that only one in five registered voters took part in the June primary. “People feel excluded from the decision-making process because they are excluded from the decision-making process.”

The CRC is considering asking voters in November whether to open our primaries. While entrenched parties and special interests are testifying against, Walden is standing up for New Yorkers who deserve an equal say in our democracy.

“This broken and undemocratic primary excludes 1.1 million independent voters like me,” said Walden, an independent since 2006. “This uses public funds for private primaries.”

Walden, a former mafia prosecutor and prominent attorney, was the only mayoral candidate who could not vote in last month’s citywide primary. “New Yorkers like me should not have to join a party to participate in the city’s most consequential elections,” he said, calling on his opponents to support this vital improvement to our elections.

A broad and growing network of leaders and nonpartisan organizations support open primaries in New York, including The Daily News, The Institute for Political Innovation, Open Primaries, Veterans for All Voters, Independent Veterans of America and UniteNY. See NYC Open Primary.

For more information, see www.jimfornyc.com or contact sara@jimfornyc.com