New Hampshire announces Jan. 23 as date for presidential primary
President Biden will not participate in the 'Granite State' elections; he will commence his campaign in South Carolina, following the party's updated calendar.
New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan confirmed Wednesday that the presidential primary will take place on Jan. 23. New Hampshire is thus placed first on next year's electoral calendar, ignoring the Democratic Party's decision that these elections be held after those in South Carolina - which they prioritize, claiming that it is more diverse.
"New Hampshire has held the first-in-the-nation presidential primary election for over 100 years," Scanlan said in statements reported by Politico. This is established by state laws, which establish that they must be held at least a week earlier than in any other state.
President Biden's campaign intended for the 'Granite State' to hold its primaries at the same time as Nevada, both after the South Carolina primaries dated February 3.
Thus, Biden will skip this event. Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the president's campaign manager, said in a letter published by NBC, that although the president wants to participate in the elections in New Hampshire, he was forced to follow the rules imposed by the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
For not following its rules, the DNC could punish the state, with penalties such as losing half of its delegates. Marianne Williamson and Representative Dean Phillips will participate in these primaries, so they could start the year with an unexpected victory.