GOP runs contrary to state law

In an effort to consolidate its power even more in the wake of the federal court overturning Initiative 872, the state GOP passed a rule forcing candidates wishing to run as a Republican to earn 25% of convention delegates in order to appear in the Republican primary. This runs contrary to state law candidacy requirements of being a resident of the district and a registered voter, and should be challenged and overturned by state courts.

As a supporter of open primaries and somebody who is reasonably centrist, I oppose such requirements meant to limit candidacies. In short, a candidate who holds positions towards the moderate end of their party could be blackballed in a convention dominated by polar liberals or conservatives. This forces voters to choose lessers of two evils to an even greater extent when most would rather pick somebody in-between. The thing I liked most about the blanket primary was that the power was held by the independent-minded and not by parties, and this development undermines candidate and voter rights by moving power even more towards the smoke-filled rooms of the past.