Shaheen suggests voters could punish Democrats if N.H. loses its first-in-the-nation primary

With a possible calendar shakeup looming, New Hampshire Democrats are attempting to persuade their nationwide counterparts that the state deserves to carry onto its first-in-the-nation presidential major — partially by suggesting that voters might punish the occasion if it loses the cherished spot.

Forward of the 2024 election cycle, the Democratic Nationwide Committee is requiring states and territories to formally apply for an early spot within the occasion’s nominating calendar. As reported by NPR, the DNC is predicted to situation a proposal for what that calendar will seem like subsequent month and maintain a vote on it in August.

This week, delegations from states — together with New Hampshire — traveled to Washington, D.C., to make their pitch to the DNC’s Guidelines and Bylaws Committee.

Hearken to an earlier NHPR interview with Joanne Dowdell, New Hampshire’s Guidelines and Bylaws Committee Consultant.

New Hampshire officers talked up the state’s dedication to grassroots politics and its rising variety. However Sen. Jeanne Shaheen additionally instructed Democrats might pay a value on the polls if the nationwide occasion strips the Granite State of its first-in-the-nation standing.

“Sadly, not too long ago, the Republican Social gathering has introduced that they plan to maintain their occasion’s presidential choice calendar unchanged,” Shaheen stated. “I say unlucky as a result of, consequently, we’re seeing a rising narrative that blames Democrats for jeopardizing New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation standing.”

Given the aggressive electoral setting for native Democrats, Shaheen added, “I concern stripping New Hampshire of its lengthy held place may very well be consequential.”

DNC members peppered Shaheen and different New Hampshire Democrats concerning the potential influence of recent voting restrictions handed by state Republicans, and a altering of the guard on the Secretary of State’s workplace, which has traditionally performed a big position in sustaining the state’s major place. Additionally they requested what occasion leaders are doing to speak with the state’s rising Latino inhabitants.

Maria Cardona, a DNC member from Washington, D.C., expressed skepticism towards the concept the advantages provided by New Hampshire’s model of presidential campaigning could be misplaced if its spot on the calendar had been to alter.

“To me, it doesn’t seem to be, if one or two different states that characterize — higher characterize — the variety of this nation go earlier than them, that form of retail politicking, I don’t know why that may change in the event that they don’t go first,” she stated.

For extra, try NHPR’s Stranglehold podcast, which explored the affect of the New Hampshire major and previous efforts to guard its standing.