DNC slams New Hampshire democrats over ‘detrimental’ primary

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) went after the New Hampshire Democratic Party over the upcoming primary in the Granite State in a Friday letter.

“The event on January 23, 2024 cannot be used as the first determining stage of the state’s delegate selection process and is considered detrimental,” the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee’s (RBC) co-chairs, Minyon Moore and James Roosevelt Jr., said in a letter obtained by Politico and addressed to the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s chair, Raymond Buckley.

Two months ago, New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan (R) announced that the state would hold its primary on Jan. 23. The placement of the primary defied an attempt by Democrats to have South Carolina go first in its primary calendar, on Feb. 3.

“We are aware that the Party intends to host a delegate selection process on Saturday, January 6,” the letter continues. “We advise you to inform participants that this process has not been approved by the RBC and is therefore not the approved route to become a Delegate to the National Convention, nor will it be recommended for approval by the RBC.”

Buckley said in an emailed statement that it is “nothing new. They’ve been saying that for a year,  yet we persist.”

Historically, Iowa and New Hampshire have been the first states in the Democrats’ nominating process. However, they moved to change the primary calendar this year in an attempt to increase racial diversity in the process.

“The Democratic Party looks like America, and so does this proposal,” said DNC Chair Jamie Harrison of the plan last year. 

The Hill has reached out to the Democratic National Committee.