No one.

Parties are private associations they should be allowed to nominate their candidates in any way they see fit

In some states being unaffiliated doesn't allow you to vote in the only relevant thing in that state: primaries

One open primary. Sometime around the third week in September. No party affiliation noted on the ballot. Candidates get on the ballot the same way they get on a primary ballot now. Top four go to general election in November (unless someone gets more than 50%, then they win). Still no party affiliation on the ballot. Ranked choice voting until there is a winner. This would work in all legislature, statewide offices, and congressional races. Some other form would be needed for US President. But still, screw the parties.

This. Trump has zero respect for our democratic institutions. In fact, he doesn’t even know or care what they are. His only measuring stick for how people should behave is if the behavior makes him feel better.

Luciom, I'm unaffiliated.
In NJ, and I suppose in some other states, those who are unaffiliated can vote or we among the nominees on the ballots or write-in among the nominees of any party they wish., But by so doing so they've automatically register themselves as affiliated to that political party.

My point was in many states, voters are prohibited from “crossing-over” to participate in the primary of a political party they're not registered as affiliated with. But effectively in NJ and I suppose within most (if not all states that have primary elections), all registered voters, (including registered unaffiliated voters) who choose to vote in the primary, can do so. Respectfully, Supposn

There are pros and cons, but this is how we do it in Canada. A couple of obvious benefits I see are that we have less partisanship as very few people are registered members of a party, and we avoid being consumed by elections for 3 out of every 4 years (although there are additional reasons this is the case in the US).

Well the USA is forced to be consumed by elections as a feature, house gets re-elected in full every 2 years.

That would be argued as a pro by some (although it definitely has its downsides as well), but year 3 insanity happens mainly because of primaries.

PointlessWords, I've read and believe that Secret Service men wanted to move Vice President Pence from the capitol Building. Their stated purpose of the move was forefilling their assigned duty to protect the vice-president of the United States. I have no reason to believe they were acting primarily for the benefit of a United States president's wish to overthrow the 2020 election.
(Although I've read descriptions of January 6th events where Pence stated he wasn't “going to get in that car”; (imply that Pence was concerned there may be a conspiracy to prevent the vice-president from performing what was until then the ceremonial duty of certifying the newly elected Electoral College representatives from each of the U.S. States.)
Respectfully, Supposn

Bobo Fett, the fault lies not in the primary or general elections; nor is it due to Donald Trump. But it's rather due to the many foolish primary and general election voters who put their trust in Trump.
Many who voted him believed him to be a true conservative, others believed he's wealthy and unlikely to be additionally swayed or enticed by the prospect of obtaining more wealth. It's natural for people to consider their self and/or their family's as among their primary their concerns, but it's a question of the extents and priorities of their concerns.
It's hoped that voters and particularly our elected officials and those appointed by our elected have more concern for our society, our, and are world.

Trump voters didn't understand or wouldn't believe Trump has always been a proponent of the Democrats and liberal policies, when Democrats and liberal policies were in the best interests of Trump. They didn't appreciate that Trump, as do many dealing with greater amounts of wealth or extents of power, lusted for gathering additionally more wealth and/or more power. The extent of such person's lust is no less than the extent of a starving person's hunger.

Personal character is an individual's, rather than a group's attribute. In 2020, both the majority of USA voters and their electoral College representatives found ex-president Trump unworthy of re-election. Respectfully, Supposn

While I don't know that I disagree with anything you've posted here, I have no idea why you quoted our posts in doing so, since they are about the way American primaries operate and lead to three out of every four years being consumed by elections. Your post is about something entirely different.