CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire on Wednesday announced Jan. 23 as the date of its presidential primary, setting up the second GOP contest of 2024 eight days after the Iowa caucuses — and defying President Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee’s plans to give South Carolina the party’s first primary contest.
The move means the Granite State will remain first on the primary calendar, but it faces punishment from the DNC, including the loss of half of its delegates to the Democratic convention, for not following the party’s new order, which was recommended by Biden.
The conflict between New Hampshire and national Democrats means Biden’s name will be missing from the New Hampshire presidential primary ballot this year.
New Hampshire has held its “first in the nation” primary status for more than a century. And in 1975, the state enacted a law that required the primary to take place at least seven or more days before any other state.
Jan. 23 "complies with our state statute, requiring our presidential primary to be at least seven days before any similar event, and it preserves the position of the traditional Iowa caucus," New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan said at a press conference Wednesday.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/new-hampshire-sets-presidential-primary-date-jan-23-defying-bidens-new-rcna125161
