NH schedules its first-in-the nation primary, despite an ongoing battle with Democrats

CONCORD, N.H. – New Hampshire voters will head to the polls on Jan. 23 to cast their ballots in the state’s first-in-the-nation presidential primary, the Granite State's Secretary of State David Scanlan announced Wednesday.

That’s just eight days after the in-person portion of the Iowa caucuses and weeks before Democratic and Republican showdowns in South Carolina. The date also means candidates vying for the New Hampshire’s 22 delegates have less than 10 weeks to win over its historically independent-minded voters.

For some onlookers, the announcement comes as little surprise. New Hampshire is required by state law to hold that first-in-the-nation primary, and, after Iowa Republicans announced in June their Jan. 15 caucus, many predicted New Hampshire would hold its primary a week later.

“New Hampshire has held the first-in-the-nation presidential primary election for over 100 years,” Scanlan said Wednesday. “In today's society, it seems that we're quick to eliminate traditions and ignore them. But years from the people of this country will really be glad we still have this one.”

A Democratic shuffle

While not unexpected, Scanlan’s decision does put the last nail in the coffin for Granite State Democrats in their battle with the Democratic National Committee over its reshuffled primary calendar.

Last year, in a move to elevate more diverse voters, the DNC ripped New Hampshire of its first-in-the-nation status, forcing the state party to move its primary to Feb. 6, on the same day as Nevada, or risk losing critical delegates. The updated calendar also moved South Carolina's Democratic primary to Feb. 3, ahead of New Hampshire and three weeks before the Palmetto State's Feb. 24 GOP contest.

New Hampshire’s GOP-run legislature has refused to change the state’s election laws to accommodate the DNC, and Scanlan previously said there was “no chance” he would break the state's tradition of going first.

Now that the primary date officially defies the DNC calendar, New Hampshire Democrats are likely to lose many of their 2024 delegates to the national convention, and so will any candidate who participates in the election.

That includes Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips, who launched a longshot bid challenging President Joe Biden last month in New Hampshire, despite warnings that he would not be eligible to win delegates in the state.

Biden opted not to file in New Hampshire, citing the potential penalties. As a result, his supporters in the state have launch a write-in campaign, urging Democrats and independents, who can cast a ballot in either party primary, to vote for the president anyway.

New Hampshire's Democratic Party will not be involved in the write-in effort. After Scanlan's announcement, Party Chair Ray Buckley addressed the legacy of first-in-the-nation in a statement, saying: "For more than 100 years, presidential candidates of both parties have come to the Granite State time and again because, no matter who they are, where they come from or how much money they have, they know they will get a fair shot from Granite Staters."

Choosing the date

Scanlan, a Republican, previously told USA TODAY he was intentionally waiting to announce the date of the primary until after the filing window closed Oct. 27, because of the state's dispute with the DNC.

He also likely wanted to ensure other states did not pre-empt New Hampshire’s contest, said Jim Splaine, a longtime New Hampshire politico and sponsor of the law mandating the state's first-place status.

"He could wait another month if he needed to," Splaine said. "But he's patiently waited ... checking with the other states to make they aren't going to play hopscotch with their dates."

Earlier this year, Scanlan expressed concern over Iowa Democrats’ proposal to use absentee ballots in their caucuses – a move he argued would effectively turn the format into a primary.

Those worries were alleviated in October when Iowa Democrats announced they would comply with the new Democratic calendar, which also stripped them of their early-voting position. Democrats in the Hawkeye State will begin mailing presidential preference cards to voters Jan. 12 but will wait to announce the results until March 5, or Super Tuesday.

While Iowa Democrats plan to hold in-person meetings on Jan. 15, the same day Republicans caucus in the state, all their presidential voting will occur exclusively through the mail, the party said.

Scanlan last month described the plan as a “positive” step toward “preserving the traditional positions of the Iowa Caucuses and New Hampshire Presidential Primary.”

A sprint to the finish

With the primary date officially set, the countdown begins for candidates and election officials alike who will spend the next two months furiously preparing for a smooth election day.

This year, 24 candidates will appear on the New Hampshire GOP ballot – including the qualifiers for the third GOP debate last week and a slew of smaller contenders. Republicans like former Vice President Mike Pence and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who filed to appear on the ballot but dropped out before the contest, could also pick up votes.

On the Democratic side, voters will have 21 candidates to choose from, including Phillips.

But the candidates don't appear phased by the now fast-approaching primary deadline. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said the date “doesn’t really matter” after a town hall last week.

“No one's been here more than me,” Christie, who announced his campaign at Saint Anselm College, said. “It’s not like I'm running out of time to make an impression.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NH announces first-in-the-nation 2024 primary for Jan. 23