Former Republican Representative Ken Buck and election reform advocates warn of missed opportunities in the 2024 congressional elections due to the GOP's resistance to ranked-choice voting.
According to the Washington Examiner, Republicans could have secured additional Senate victories in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nevada, as well as House wins in Oregon and Ohio, if these states had implemented ranked choice voting systems.
The impact of this decision becomes particularly significant as Republicans prepare to defend 22 Senate seats in 2026. Election reform advocates argue that the party's widespread distrust and outright ban of ranked choice voting in many GOP-controlled states may prove detrimental to their future electoral success.
In the 2024 election cycle, eight states voted on ballot initiatives related to ranked choice voting. While Washington D.C. approved the measure, states like Idaho and South Dakota overwhelmingly rejected it, with 69.6% and 65.6% of voters opposing the reform, respectively.
Montana narrowly rejected the measure, with 51.1% voting against it. Some Republican leaders, including Representative Ryan Zinke, expressed satisfaction with these outcomes. Zinke said:
I hate it. We were smart enough to reject it. In winner takes all, you can have a person that gets the least amount of votes and win, and all's it is is a tool that manipulates so a minority can win a seat. To me, it's undemocratic.
Despite these setbacks, Unite America's Nick Troiano remains optimistic about the progress made in building awareness and support for ranked choice voting reforms.
Alaska's implementation of ranked choice voting produced a notable Republican victory in 2024, with Nick Begich becoming the first Republican elected to Congress under this system. This success came after defeating Democratic incumbent Mary Peltola, who had previously benefited from the same voting system in 2022.
Unite America and other reform advocates point to specific races where conservative third-party candidates potentially cost Republicans their victories. In Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nevada, Democratic senators won by margins smaller than the percentage of votes received by third-party candidates.
Former Representative Ken Buck emphasized the potential impact on future legislative success, particularly concerning Trump's agenda. Buck stated:
This year's margin was critical, and it could have been 56 to 44, and not getting those extra seats this year may very well hurt the Trump agenda come 2026.
The Republican Party's rejection of ranked choice voting has significant implications for upcoming electoral battles, particularly the challenging 2026 Senate landscape where Republicans must defend numerous seats. Election reform advocates argue that the GOP's opposition to ranked choice voting could hinder their ability to consolidate conservative votes and secure victories in close races.
The success in Alaska demonstrates that ranked choice voting can benefit Republicans when properly implemented and understood by voters. However, resistance within the party remains strong, with many leaders expressing concerns about voter confusion and system complexity.
Despite setbacks in multiple state ballot initiatives, organizations like Unite America continue to promote the benefits of ranked choice voting, emphasizing its potential to give voice to independent voters and create more competitive elections.
The debate over ranked choice voting reflects a broader struggle within the Republican Party to adapt to changing electoral dynamics. The 2024 election results highlighted missed opportunities in several key races where conservative third-party candidates may have affected the final outcome. As Republicans prepare for the challenges of 2026, the party's stance on electoral reform could significantly impact their ability to maintain and expand their congressional presence.
