Colorado Coalition Invests Millions to Turn Arizona Blue with Prop 140

By Staff Reporter |

A significant push to reshape Arizona’s electoral landscape has gained traction with financial backing from Unite America. This organization, recognized for its influence in pushing states toward blue political leanings, is at the forefront of a ballot initiative advocating for open primaries and ranked-choice voting.

Unite America stands as the primary financial supporter of Proposition 140, represented by the Make Elections Fair PAC. Earlier this month, the organization contributed over $1.7 million to bolster the campaign’s efforts.

The driving force behind Unite America is Kent Thiry, a former CEO of DaVita, a national dialysis provider. Thiry has played a pivotal role in various electoral reforms in Colorado, which has seen a shift towards Democratic control. He experienced legal challenges, including a federal indictment in 2021 for antitrust violations, but was acquitted the following year. DaVita itself faced scrutiny, agreeing to pay a $34.5 million settlement over whistleblower claims earlier this year.

In Colorado, Thiry championed reforms enabling unaffiliated voters to participate in party primaries, eliminating in-person caucuses, and creating an independent commission to combat gerrymandering. These initiatives contributed to the state’s political transformation and Thiry’s ambition to replicate this model across other states, including Arizona.

Thiry is vocal about the necessity of open primaries and ranked-choice voting for the survival of American democracy. “To survive, you have to modernize and reflect society,” he stated in a recent interview.

Since 2019, Unite America has invested over $70 million nationally to promote similar electoral changes. Notably, in 2020, the organization effectively campaigned in Alaska, leading to the adoption of open primaries and ranked-choice voting. This reform cycle saw significant electoral outcomes, including the defeat of Republican candidates by moderates.

In addition to Arizona, Unite America is actively pursuing election reforms in numerous states, including Connecticut, Georgia, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. Their reform objectives encompass top-four nonpartisan primaries, expanded mail-in voting, and independent redistricting commissions.