PHILADELPHIA – The Democratic National Committee Carolina on Saturday. Approved President Joe Biden’s recommendation of Iowa
And New Hampshire for the 2024 calendar, removing them from the status. They enjoyed for decades when the president led the primary.
South Carolina will now kick things off for Democrats, with.
Michigan — and Georgia — joining primary states in the year’s biggest. Shake-up of presidential primaries, with Nevada coming in second.
New Hampshire could move on the same day as Nevada if Republican lawmakers. And governors change state laws. Georgia will also need cooperation from. Republican officials to take advantage of the new slots now available to them.
Republicans are sticking with traditional roles for Iowa. And New Hampshire for their 2024 presidential primaries. But Democrats have been looking to campaign in more diverse states for years.
“This calendar does what has been around for a long time.” Said DNC Chair Jaime Harrison “It puts black voters at the front of the process in South Carolina. It puts Nevada, where Latinos are building strength … and it puts Michigan, the heartland, where unions have built this nation’s middle class. And Georgia, at the front of the new South.
“The Democratic Party looks like America,” Harrison continued, “and so does this proposal.”
The new calendar has South Carolina first on Feb. 3, 2024, followed by New Hampshire. And Nevada on Feb. 6, followed by Georgia on Feb. 13 and Michigan on Feb. 27. After that, any state is free to schedule its primary. when it wants
The party finally exerted the political will to shake up the status quo. After Iowa postponed its 2020 caucuses. Which delayed the results by days and shifted further into the Republican column.
The calendar is not yet final, as it is now up to states to change their initial dates to follow it. South Carolina, Nevada and Michigan have. Already codified their positions, while others have not.
Iowa and New Hampshire Democrats objected to the new calendar. Warning that opening the calendar to change could create chaos. By inviting other states to try to.
Elbow Democrats’ electoral prospects in their states.
Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Rita Hart said the Iowa removal would face accusations from Democrats that they had “turned their backs on Iowa and rural America.”
But the biggest problem is New Hampshire, where a state law mandates that it hold its first primary a week before any other state in the country.
New Hampshire Democrats have asked for more time to try to come up with a solution. But most Democrats say the writing is on the wall and expect no resolution to the impasse.
Instead, New Hampshire appears. Likely to move forward with a non-sanctioned first-state Democratic primary. Even though that means the party will lose delegates to next year’s Democratic. National Convention and any candidates. Who put their names on the ballot face stiff penalties from. The DNC, e.g.
Obstructing the debate stage or losing access to voter files.
“The DNC is willing to punish us even though we don’t have the power to change state law.” Said New Hampshire DNC member Joanne Dowdell. “It will only hurt President Biden in our purple battleground state.”
Democrats could match someone like Marianne Williamson. The spiritual writer. Who is running a long-shot presidential campaign in 2020, as the most prominent. Democrat on the ballot in a non-sanctioned New Hampshire primary.
“If President Biden doesn’t file for New Carolina Hampshire. It could give an insurgent candidate a chance to run. And win the 2024 primary — something no one in this room wants to see,” Dowdell added.
But in a group united behind Biden, there was little sympathy for its plight.
“No state should have a lock on going first,” said Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell, a promoted state DNC member.
Those who spoke in favor of the new calendar received far more applause. Than their colleagues from Iowa or New Hampshire.
“You, for too long, have not been reflected in our party’s nominating calendar in this country.” Said Rep. Nickema Williams of Georgia, who chairs the state Democratic Party. “After today, we can say that voices that have been silenced for too long have been elevated.”
