Let the Voters Decide — Not the Democratic Party Conclave

On Saturday morning in Southampton, party insiders gathered behind closed doors to do what voters should have been allowed to do themselves: select a democratic nominee for Congress.

There was no literal white smoke rising above Klinger Middle School. But the symbolism was hard to miss. Before the petition period had even closed, before every candidate had a fair opportunity to qualify for the ballot, the Bucks County Democratic Committee moved to endorse County Commissioner Bob Harvie.

That wasn’t democracy. It was choreography resulting in a coronation. This is not how democracy is supposed to work.

Pennsylvania law lays out a clear and fair process. Candidates collect signatures. They earn a place on the ballot. They make their case to voters. Then the voters decide in an open primary.

Everything beyond that — the insider meetings among political elitists and the ole democratic party muscle flexing — narrows your choices before you ever step into a voting booth.

The voters of PA-01 deserve an open primary.

Not an anointment.

Not a backroom blessing.

Not a managed outcome.

Not a system where politicos pick the candidate and expect everyone else to fall in line. That is the epitome of playing politics.

I’m a Navy veteran. I’ve served in Iraq. I’ve protected Americans overseas at the State Department. I raised my hand to run for Congress because I believe our democracy is at risk — and is worth fighting for.

That fight doesn’t start in Washington. It starts with whether we, as Democrats, practice what we preach. We cannot claim to defend democracy nationally while short-circuiting it locally.

This district is not a rubber-stamp district. It’s a true swing district. Voters here are pragmatic. Independent. Thoughtful. They expect candidates to compete — to show up, to listen, to debate ideas, to earn votes. They want results, not coronations.

No one should be nominated because it’s “their turn.”

No one should be shielded from competition by party machinery.

If Bob Harvie wants to represent PA-01 in Congress, he should make his case directly to the people of this district in an open primary — not rely on insider endorsements to clear the field before the race even begins. 

The stakes this year are not abstract. We are living through a moment when democratic norms are under pressure nationally. Many voters are disillusioned — appalled by extremism on one side and frustrated by complacency on the other.

If we are serious about protecting democracy, we must start by modeling it. Competition strengthens candidates. Debate sharpens ideas. Open primaries build legitimacy. When party insiders move to anoint a nominee before voters have spoken, it sends the wrong message — that the process is managed, that outcomes are pre-determined, that your voice comes second.

An open primary gives voters freedom of choice. Otherwise, what we get is politics as usual — insiders playing political games while families suffer from rising costs, expensive healthcare, and attacks on their civil rights. 

I’ve raised my hand for hard missions before. This one is no different. I’m prepared to earn your vote and, once elected, to have your trust as your voice in Congress. 

— Mike Zeltakalns
Candidate for Congress, PA-01