Democrats have been left scrambling to avoid a potential embarrassment for President Joe Biden in New Hampshire in 2024 after the Democratic National Committee approved a calendar that gave the state’s slot to South Carolina.
The move puts New Hampshire in a shared second slot on the primary calendar with Nevada, but it could actually keep Biden’s name off the ballot.
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New Hampshire has a state law that requires it to have its primary a week before the rest of the country. With a Republican-led state legislature and governor, changing the state law to appease Democrats is not likely.
“We can’t change our laws, and that’s that. We’re hosting the first primary,” Ray Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, told Politico. “The president can decide if he wants to put his name on the ballot.”
Although losing New Hampshire to challengers Marianne Williamson or Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would not likely harm Biden’s chance of being the party’s nominee, it could provide an embarrassment for the president early in the election.
Both challengers have already indicated they would abide by the state’s laws and put their names on the 2024 ballot, even if it means they face repercussions. The state could also lose half its delegates if it decides to host the primary without approval, according to Politico.
Members of the Democratic Party, however, have proposed two new ideas to get around the state law. One idea is conducting a primary that would be run by the Democratic Party, which would still give the state its delegates. Democrats have argued that option would be too expensive and logistically impossible.
The second idea is to give the state an extension, but Democrats have also rejected that notion, claiming it would not do any good.
“If there’s any opportunity for this to get resolved by New Hampshire having more time, all of us will say, ‘Give New Hampshire more time,’” labor leader Randi Weingarten, who sits on the DNC committee that approved the changes to the nominating calendar, told the outlet.
Other Democrats have been divided over the new nomination calendar, which was intended to reward South Carolina for helping Biden secure the presidency over former President Donald Trump in 2020. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) slammed the administration’s attempt to change the order of the primaries, claiming it “would be political malpractice” to do so.
“Let me be very clear: It would be political malpractice to strip New Hampshire of delegates, disenfranchising Granite State Democrats for a decision out of their control,” Khanna told an audience of Democrats at a party dinner. “We all know these four electoral votes are going to matter for the presidency.”
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Another Biden ally, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), also slammed the party. She claimed she would not allow Republicans to dominate the state.
New Hampshire has until June 3 to come up with a solution or face the penalties of jumping the line if no extension is given. Biden said he would allow whatever sanctions the party decides.
