The current iteration of primaries, and the government paying for them, got going in the USA during the 1960s. It was the start of the populist revolt, and part

The current iteration of primaries, and the government paying for them, got going in the USA during the 1960s. It was the start of the populist revolt, and part of the goal was to weaken the political parties. Progressive reformers were motivated by the outcomes of struggles such as Fanny Lou Hamer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fannie_Lou_Hamer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fannie_Lou_Hamer Civil Rights leaders wondered why ultra-racist white men got to represent the Democratic Party in Mississippi, when someone like Fanny Lou Hamer seemed to have broad based support in her district. Why were ultra-racist Democrats able to make a backroom deal and nominate some staunch segregationist, instead of allowing someone to stand for the Democrats, chosen democratically? The goal of the primaries was to weaken the political parties, which is why you might find them confusing. At the time, a number of scholars pointed out that weakening the parties would increase the influence of money, and also allow untested demagogues to step forward and become the leaders of the weakened parties. These concerns seem to have been borne out by events.