So folks today there are more independent voters than either Democrats or Republicans that

you didn't know that or maybe you did because you're one of those independent voters.

And in 20 you're one of those independent voters.

And in 2024, this year, 24 million of you,

24 million independent voters will be locked out of closed primaries for president or Congress or even their state legislature across the

Democratic or Republican Party should be.

You don't have a say in who the Democratic or Republican Party

should be.

So my guest today, Nick Toriano, is a reformer in this space. He is the

author of the primary solution rescuing our democracy from the fringes. He's the founding executive director of

United America, which I serve as an advisor on that board. In 2014, Nick Ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania's 10th District

and was both the youngest candidate of that cycle and the most competitive independent congressional candidate

nationally in over two decades. But the process didn't allow him to win, didn't

allow him to take advantage of the opportunities that are often afforded

Democrats and Republicans in an electoral process. So we get into wide reform and change is necessary and I

want you to be a part of that, take some notes. Join me in my conversation with

Victoriano right here on the Michael Still

podcast coming up right after this. Hey everybody. Welcome to the Michael Steele podcast. It's always a treat when you

drop in and share some time. I'm, you know, getting ready for the election

season like all of us and you know, you got a drill down and understand exactly

what the hell you're doing and why you're doing it. And that's an important part of this process that we're that we've already

started with our presidential race that a lot of state and local races are getting formed.

...