Should Delaware be the first to hold a 2024 presidential primary? The state's going to try

Meredith Newman, Delaware News Journal
·2 min read

Delaware is one of many states vying to become the first to hold a 2024 Democratic presidential primary.

The Democratic National Committee voted last month for Iowa to no longer automatically host the first primary of the Democratic presidential race. The DNC has allowed other states to make a pitch, since there's been a longstanding concern that Iowans are not representative of the country at large.

Travis Williams, executive director of the state Democratic Party, confirmed in an email that Delaware has submitted a letter of intent to the Democratic National Committee. He declined to provide the letter or offer any additional comment.

Primary election voters are greeted by candidates, campaigners and the usual proliferation of campaign signs at Harlan Elementary School in Wilmington on July 7, 2020.
Primary election voters are greeted by candidates, campaigners and the usual proliferation of campaign signs at Harlan Elementary School in Wilmington on July 7, 2020.

THE STATE OF POLITICS: Democrats open door for another state to jump the Iowa caucuses. Where could the 2024 primary start?

Politico reported Friday that at least 15 state parties, as well as Puerto Rico, submitted letters of intent to the national committee to be an early primary state in 2024. Many of the states are in the Midwest.

This wouldn't be the first time Delaware tried to make itself more of a power player in the presidential primary. In 1996, the state sought to hold a primary four days after New Hampshire. The Granite State wanted Delaware to wait a full week, like it had to with the Iowa caucuses.

THE BACKSTORY: The time Delaware and New Hampshire had a big fight over a primary. For real.

It didn't go well. New Hampshire gave the presidential candidates an ultimatum: If they campaigned in Delaware, then the state would not support their candidacy.

Some New Hampshire lawmakers at the time argued that Delaware’s early primary would hurt their state's economy. Lawmakers also threatened to commission a study on how to take away some of the money Delaware earns in corporation taxes and fees.

Ultimately, Delaware held a presidential primary four days after New Hampshire in both 1996 and 2000. Though, that eventually stopped and Delaware resumed its primaries months after New Hampshire.

Contact Meredith Newman at (302) 256-2466 or at mnewman@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MereNewman.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware vies to be first state to hold a 2024 presidential primary