PEOPLE vs. POLITICS profiles grassroots leaders around the country dedicated to reforming the uniquely partisan and polarizing nature of U.S. elections.
Varying in personal background and political orientation, these reformers face similar challenges placing citizen initiatives onto the 2024 ballots in Nevada, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Alaska & Washington, DC. They also share a common goal: Enhancing people power through opening primaries and creating ranked choice (or instant run-off) general elections where winners must earn a true majority.
From DC street fairs to Native Alaskan festivals, at house parties, town halls and debates, the film captures the enthusiasm behind these initiatives and the blowback from those in power.
That’s People vs. Politics.
Independently financed and produced by Fluent Knowledge.
Reform Leaders
Lisa Rice
Washington, DC
Proposer of Initiative 83: Registered Independent & Committed Reformer
A DC native from a family of military veterans, Lisa Rice has witnessed firsthand how closed primaries in this one party town elect and re-elect officials with low levels of support who then govern with low level results.
Lisa decides to take the election system on, becoming the official proposer of “Initiative 83” to open party primaries to independent voters and create ranked choice primary and general elections. But numerous obstacles lie ahead: collecting signatures, fending off lawsuits, winning on election day and, if successful, securing funding from many of the same Democratic politicians opposed to the ballot measure.
Luke Mayville
Idaho
Co-founder of Reclaim Idaho, History Scholar, Contemporary Organizer
Luke Mayville set aside a promising academic career to address critical problems in his home state. First, he led Reclaim Idaho, a volunteer-based organization, in passing Medicaid expansion as a ballot measure. Then Luke and Reclaim decide to address “the root of the problem”– a party-dominated election system.
Following “the Alaska Model,” these reforms seek to re-open closed primaries and create ranked choice general elections. But Idaho’s signature requirements are among the nation’s toughest. The GOP faction controlling state government is firmly opposed. And misinformation swirls around the effort as Luke and his team reach out to Idaho voters.
Cesar Marquez
Nevada
Systems Engineer who detects election system flaws
A son of Mexican immigrants who achieved his American dream, Cesar Marquez confides that he never liked politics. And still doesn’t. Yet he’s inspired by reforms in Alaska to set aside engineering and take on the reform challenge in the purple state of Nevada.
As a grassroots organizer, Cesar holds numerous events, such as “rank the cocktail” and “rank the taco,” demonstrating ranked choice voting (RCV). Meanwhile, both major parties actively oppose the reforms. And official “Yes on 3” messaging continues to emphasize the opening of primaries while avoiding the more difficult education needed for RCV. As a result, Cesar’s concerns grow steadily as election day nears.
Rebecca Himschoot
Alaska
Independent AK Legislator, Career Science Educator
Rebecca Himschoot observed the problems of the community mounting within her classroom, prompting her initial run for office in 2022. That was Alaska’s first election under the new system of an all party primary, open to all voters, and a top four ranked choice general election.
Yet two years later (in 2024) a measure to repeal the system is on the ballot. Running unopposed for her own House seat, Rebecca decides to knock doors explaining how “RCV” makes the legislature less partisan and more pragmatic. But many constituents are not on board. National politics is seeping into the Frontier State. And Alaska elections often come down to a tiny number of votes.
David Oclander
Montana
Army Veteran, Strategic Planner, Educator
A retired Army Colonel, David Oclander becomes a team leader at Montana Veterans for All Voters and passionate advocate for two constitutional initiatives. First, to create a unified and open primary. Second, to require a majority winner for general elections in a state where the spoiler effect has loomed large.
In the months before Election Day, David presents, canvasses and converses at a wide variety of events. He recognizes a strong reaction emanating from party bosses and fears the election reform movement lacks sufficient counter-reaction to the hailstorm of misinformation. Yet his commitment to the importance of election reform never wavers.
Lisa Feret
Colorado
Veteran, Social Worker & CO House Member
Lisa Feret (D) broke the rules on how to gain a seat in the Colorado House during the 2024 campaign. First, she bucked her party’s position against CO Prop 131 to canvas for open primaries plus ranked choice voting. Second, she also co-affiliates with Andrew Yang’s Forward Party, whose defining mantra is “neither right nor left.”
Passage of CO 131 would help Lisa sustain her independent mindset within the CO House. But, as election night nears, she encounters friends, neighbors and fellow veterans unaware or misinformed about the initiative. In this deepening blue state that recently passed a ballot against gerrymandering, is enthusiasm waning for non-partisan election reforms?
People vs. Politics
Why Election Reform?
Because of fundamental changes in the electorate and deep dissatisfaction with U.S. governance at all levels.
The largest block of U.S. voters are Independent, and that population is rising.
Data Source: Gallup
The lack of competitive elections is creating a growing number of “one party” state governments.
Data Source: Ballotpedia
Americans are now less willing to connect across party lines.
Think you could date someone of opposing political views?
Data Source: YouGov.com & Innerbody.com
Growing polarization in Congress as both parties “primary” out centrists and pragmatists.
Data Source: Voteview
People vs. Politics
Why Not Reform?
The case for reform may seem broadly compelling. But change is never easy– particularly when it comes to elections.
Opponents of open primaries claim that independent voters disenfranchise themselves by choosing not to affiliate with a major political party.
Opponents of ranked choice voting point to its complexity, short track record and the additional expense of administrating RCV elections.
Furthermore, dominant factions of political parties (in states red, blue and purple) claim that weakening political parties will confuse voters and create greater opportunity for the wealthy and powerful.
In town halls, debates and voter interviews, People vs. Politics lays bare the tensions surrounding electoral change at a time of deep polarization and high anxiety.
People vs. Politics
Expert Perspectives & Insights
People vs. Politics weaves the narrative of these grassroots efforts with commentary from respected experts in the fields of politics, psychology, media and culture.
Asa Hutchinson
Former US House Member, Governor & Presidential candidate (2020)
Andrew Yang
Founder & Co-Chair, Forward Party
Presidential Candidate (2016)
Film Team
Robert Pease
Director and Producer
Robert traces his interest in democracy and politics to the televised Watergate hearings discussed in his middle school social science class. A Politics major at Princeton and Fulbright Scholar in Singapore, Robert worked in Japan and China as a journalist and executive recruiter prior to launching The Purple Principle podcast on the perils of polarization. Lauded by the New York Times, the podcast covered the seminal 2020 election reforms in Alaska and growth of independent voters nationwide while gradually adding video production. People vs. Politics is his first film.
Favorite documentaries:
Carol Wingard
Director and Producer
With 30 years experience as a management consultant, Carol knows how to keep the trains running. She has turned these skills towards documentary film production where, as lead Producer at People vs. Politics, she oversaw 17 filming teams around the country on Election Night 2024.
After receiving a degree from Princeton University, Carol embarked on an international career in China and Southeast Asia. Living abroad in one party states with limited press and personal freedom has informed her country-over-party political perspective back home in the US. Off set, Carol can be found in and around water, either swimming or paddleboarding, or hiking on land with her family and two large dogs.
Favorite documentaries:
Sven Pape
Editor
Sven is an ACE Award–nominated editor with an MFA from the American Film Institute. He has cut films for James Cameron (Ghosts of the Abyss 3D IMAX), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (HitRECord on TV, Emmy winner), and Mark Webber (Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominee The End of Love).
His work has premiered at Sundance, SXSW, and Cannes, with theatrical releases nationwide including the Netflix documentary Alt-Right: Age of Rage.
Favorite documentaries:
Mary Claire Kogler
Associate Producer
Born and raised outside Washington, D.C., Mary Claire has spent her life surrounded by culture and politics in the nation’s capital. She took these lifelong influences and channeled them into a passion for media at Georgetown University where she studied English, economics, and film. She gained experience working in animation and film festivals before turning to documentary with Fluent Knowledge.
Favorite documentaries:
Julia Hoppock
Associate Producer
Julia is a documentary film producer with a passion for telling stories that connect people to the issues that shape their lives. She was an impact producer for The Social Dilemma and has produced films for HBO and Netflix, beginning her career covering politics at ABC News and POLITICO. Off set, she’s usually skiing or running the trails in Colorado.
Favorite documentaries:
Dustin Hughes
Additional Editor
For over two decades, Dustin has been a documentary and narrative filmmaker, producer, writer, editor, and cinematographer. His recent projects, Flesh and Blood and The Place of No Words received critical acclaim and screened in competition at festivals worldwide, including SXSW, Tribeca, Munich International, and Indie Memphis. Additionally, Dustin received a Clio Award for his branded short documentary series, Lives Changed, and serves as an adjunct professor at UCLA Extension’s Entertainment Studies Program.
Favorite documentaries:
Trevor Prophet
Digital Strategy & Operations
A former non-profit leader, Trevor now works in digital strategy—bringing people-first values to data and team workflows. At People vs. Politics, he supports research, content, organization, and systems that keep the team moving forward. Outside of work, he’s often in motion, trying to keep up with his partner and their adventurous toddler.
Favorite documentaries:
In addition to our core team, many collaborators helped bring this project to life.
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