Defying DNC, New Hampshire to hold first 2024 presidential primary

New Hampshire is set to hold the first 2024 presidential primary on Jan. 23, following the Iowa caucuses, despite the plans of the Democratic National Committee. New Hampshire has held the “first in the nation” presidential primary for a century, beginning in 1920.

The Democratic National Committee failed in trying to stop New Hampshire.

Jim Splaine

Though holding the first primary of the election is a state tradition in New Hampshire, the DNC planned for South Carolina to hold the first primary this time, with President Biden recommending more diverse states to be in the early lineup.

New Hampshire’s secretary of state, Republican David Scanlan, has the authority to set the primary date, and he said he plans on following the state’s law.

“Using racial diversity as a cudgel in an attempt to rearrange the presidential nominating calendar is an ugly precedent,” Scanlan said. “At what point does a state become too old, or too wealthy, or too educated, or too religious to hold an early primary?”

New Hampshires law, enacted in 1975, requires the state to hold the presidential primary on the second Tuesday in March or seven or more days before any other state holds a similar election.

“The Democratic National Committee failed in trying to stop New Hampshire,” said Jim Splaine, a former New Hampshire lawmaker who wrote the “first in the nation” law. “We are having a primary with what 21 candidates, and the Republicans are already underway meeting voters one-on-one, face-to-face, eye-to-eye throughout the state to show their credentials for being president.”

South Carolina has been the best indicator of who is eventually going to be the nominee of the Democratic party

DNC Chair Jaime Harrison

Biden did not put his name on the ballot in New Hampshire, anticipating the state would hold an unsanctioned Democratic contest, though there are rumbling of his supporters running a write-in campaign.

In July, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison defended the decision to flip the primary calendar in an interview with MSNBC.

“South Carolina has been the best indicator of who is eventually going to be the nominee of the Democratic party, and why is that the case?” Harrison said. “It is the case because for decades Black voters have been the backbone of the Democratic party and what happens in South Carolina has a ripple effect.”

New Hampshire’s decision could also have future ramifications, as the DNC could refuse to count the state delegates at the Democratic convention.