Will There Be Another Progressive Era?

In 1903, Wisconsin became the first state to implement direct primary elections under the leadership of the state’s Republican governor, Robert La Follette. Prior to that time, political party candidate appointments (with their corrupting elements) were common. La Follette felt that citizens should have a voice in selecting the candidates for office, as well as voting directly for referenda. He was nationally recognized for his efforts and by 1917 all but four states had adopted the direct primary for some or all statewide nominations. La Follette and other progressives in this movement were champions for electoral reform during a time called the Progressive Era…the period from 1890 to 1920 in U.S. history. 

Implementation of primary elections was but one of several significant actions taken in the Progressive Era. For example, when the founders met at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, they established that candidates for the United States Senate were elected by the members of state legislatures, not the voters. And notably, women were not permitted to vote. The 17th Amendment of the Constitution (approved in 1913) enabled citizens to vote for the U.S. Senate and in 1920, the 19th Amendment established the right for women to vote. These amendments represented major change in voter access.

What was driving the change in the Progressive Era? The preceding era was referred to as the Gilded Age. Political corruption was at the forefront, with politicians catering to business interests and participating in graft and bribery. Racial tensions and economic inequality were added factors. The Progressive Era was the populist response to the problems facing the American democratic republic at the time.

So fast forward to today. Many of the actions taken during the Progressive Era (think of the 19th Amendment) have had a lasting, positive impact on the American democratic republic. But the effectiveness of other actions eroded over time as the political parties developed work arounds. Notable in this group is the primary election. The primary election was an important improvement in the Progressive Era. As it is applied today in the U.S. political system, it is a problem. Many of the election districts are dominated by voters in one party or the other. For these voters, the outcomes in the low-turnout primary election largely determine who will ultimately be elected, rather than the general election. Furthermore, in today’s politically divided climate, partisan primaries tend to appeal to disenfranchised votes,thus fueling extremism. Under these conditions, political party leaders are able to “primary” members who dare to work with members of the opposing party. These conditions exist on both the left and the right.

All of this raises a key question…will there be another Progressive Era in the United States? In a report by the Brookings Institution, the book The Upswing by Robert Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett, highlights their thoughts on this question. They present evidence that our current levels of economic and political polarization are not greatly different than they were in the 1890s, at the peak of the  “Gilded Age.”, thus clearing the way for a second Progressive Era.  Putnam and Garrett however, express some caution. They point out that there are some significant differences, unique to 2024.

• The current wedge between the attitudes of working-class whites and progressives, and

• The federal fiscal crunch that grows with almost each passing year, and

• The identification of red states and blue states based upon partisan voting patterns.

So, while the national dynamics present a mixed picture of the prospects for a second Progressive Era, it is important to remember that many of the progressive steps taken in 1890 to 1920 were at the state and local level. While addressing the national polarized dynamics may seem daunting, taking steps at the state and community level. Essentially, this happened repeatedly in the Progressive Era. 

Can this state-by-state dynamic happen again? Perhaps. For example, in 2020, the State of Alaska approved the Final Four Voting (FFV) model, with open primaries and ranked choice voting in the general election. The FFV model was credited with reducing partisan gridlock. The state legislature even established an effective bipartisan budget committee…a practice that would be unheard of prior to 2020. Other states are now looking at the results. 

We should not forget, there was not an easy path for electoral reform in the Progressive Era, and there won’t be today. The persistence of Robert La Follette earned him the nickname, “fighting Bob”. If there is to be a new Progressive Era, the persistence of elected officials and voters will also be a key…the fighting Americans, if you will.