Vice President JD Vance and Senator Ted Cruz are making appearances in Iowa this week, marking early positioning for the 2028 Republican presidential primary race. The visits to the traditional early voting state come as political observers note increasing activity among potential GOP candidates looking ahead to succeed Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, state-level primary systems are facing renewed scrutiny from party leaders. In California, Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks is calling for changes to the state's open primary system, which he describes as problematic. Under California's current system, all candidates regardless of party compete in the same primary, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election.

Hicks expressed concern that the open primary format could allow multiple Democratic candidates to split the vote, potentially enabling a Republican to advance and win the governorship in the heavily Democratic state. "The current system we have does not work," Hicks said, advocating for the system to be "revised or repealed."

Similar primary dynamics are playing out in other states. In Oregon, Republican candidates are competing in their party's gubernatorial primary, with observers noting that voter choices could provide insight into the direction of the Republican Party in a post-Trump era. The Democratic incumbent governor is considered likely to win re-election.

The focus on primary systems comes as redistricting battles continue following recent Supreme Court decisions. Legal experts suggest that mid-decade redistricting efforts, which have occurred across multiple states over the past year and a half, may become more common in future election cycles, potentially affecting congressional map drawing in 2026 and 2028.