In Dave Bangert’s May 10th, 2026 piece, Did these crossover votes save Indiana Sen. Spencer Deery?, he included shared the following:
Recent efforts to close primaries have faced resistance, something Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith – who was in deep with efforts to upend incumbent Republican senators who crossed Trump on redistricting – railed on in the days after this week’s primary.
Beckwith, who was all-in on Copenhaver, a member of the staff in the lieutenant governor’s office, posted this: “Indiana needs to close our Primaries! Open primaries are RIDICULOUS and it’s asking for problems. Many Democrats crossed over into the recent GOP primaries to disrupt the process. CLOSE THE INDIANA PRIMARIES!”
If the primaries close, the public should no longer pay for them.
Currently, they are open and the Public pays.
If this entirely internal affair of private, 527 group non-profit political parties is not something anyone can participate in during any election, then the argument that this process is a necessity that Public should cover the expense shrinks even smaller than its current flimsy justifications.
