New Democratic Primary Calendar

Democrats Overhaul Party’s Primary Calendar, Upending a Political Tradition (NYT, Unlocked "gift" link)

Democrats voted to endorse a proposal that starts the 2024 Democratic presidential primary circuit on Feb. 3 in South Carolina, the state that resuscitated Mr. Biden’s once-flailing candidacy. New Hampshire and Nevada are scheduled to follow on Feb. 6, Georgia on Feb. 13 and then Michigan on Feb. 27.

Any calendar that doesn't have California somewhere in the first 5 states is fundamentally undemocratic. California has a huge number of electoral votes, is incredibly diverse and, generally speaking, gets zero say in choosing a candidate.

South Carolina, on the other hand, is a sort of joke state (we could definitely use one less Carolina, one less Virginia and our need for any Dakotas is doubtful at best).

I suppose the most democratic (small "d") approach would be a one day national primary?

PVW said:

I suppose the most democratic (small "d") approach would be a one day national primary?

I think there’s great value in letting the process unfold over a period of months. Candidates emerge and also trip up, exposing their true character, for better or worse. 

PVW said:

I suppose the most democratic (small "d") approach would be a one day national primary

Hard to say.  Starting with one relatively tiny state is definitely anything other than democratic.

The order should definitely change with every election.  This thing where the residents of some podunk nowheresville get to choose the President every four years is complete BS.

The article doesn't mention when NJ will vote.  I am guessing dead last, as usual?

jimmurphy said:

I think there’s great value in letting the process unfold over a period of months. Candidates emerge and also trip up, exposing their true character, for better or worse. 

Isn't that true even if the actual voting is on a single day? The general election is definitely a process.

I don’t know. 

Isn’t there value in a bunch of quizzes, exams and a mid-term before the final?

An opportunity to learn along the way?

If they start with the big states, then interest will fade by the time they get to one of the Dakotas. No? Gotta build that momentum and energy right? 

It makes no sense as South Carolina never votes Dem in the general.

Steve said:

It makes no sense as South Carolina never votes Dem in the general.

And Iowa does?

GoSlugs said:

Any calendar that doesn't have California somewhere in the first 5 states is fundamentally undemocratic. California has a huge number of electoral votes, is incredibly diverse and, generally speaking, gets zero say in choosing a candidate.

South Carolina, on the other hand, is a sort of joke state (we could definitely use one less Carolina, one less Virginia and our need for any Dakotas is doubtful at best).

As a now-SC resident, I can reliably state SC is anything but a joke. Certainly less than a distant Canadian province that 90% of folks couldn't find on a map. 

Dennis_Seelbach said:

Steve said:

It makes no sense as South Carolina never votes Dem in the general.

And Iowa does?

Only in 6 of the past 9 elections.

Republicans are upset because of Iowa? why do they feel New Hampshire is special? Soon they will be saying the democrats are racists…

GoSlugs said:

The article doesn't mention when NJ will vote. I am guessing dead last, as usual?

As long as it’s after the first five states, the date remains up to New Jersey, I believe.

I think it depends on what the purposes of the primaries are. Is it to discern the will of a majority of members of the party? Then it's hard to see why states should matter at all, and arguably a series of votes overcomplicates things and easily leads to favoritism and bias (who votes in what order, and why?). A campaign season with debates and other candidate events would seem to provide the "quizzes" of Jim Murphy's analogy, even with culminating in a single member-wide vote.

Is it to maximize the odds in a general election? Then states do matter a lot, but not states like Iowa, South Carolina, New Hampshire, and California. Just poll PA, MI, and WI and be done with it.

Is it to manage the internal politics of the party? Then both states and faction across states matter a lot, and it makes perfect sense for the leader of the party to reward the state organizations that gained him the nomination (and beyond the specific case of Biden, it makes sense that IA and NH would hold less sway as the party itself has changed over time).

Dennis_Seelbach said:

As a now-SC resident, I can reliably state SC is anything but a joke. Certainly less than a distant Canadian province that 90% of folks couldn't find on a map. 

Sorry buddy but I vote in NJ, a state with 14 electoral votes and a reliable record of turning out for Democratic presidential candidates.  I will continue to vote in NJ until I either die or move to another US state.

South Carolina: Just south of North Carolina

Dennis_Seelbach said:

Steve said:

It makes no sense as South Carolina never votes Dem in the general.

And Iowa does?

I don't recall advocating for Iowa to be the first step in the nominating process.

Steve said:

Dennis_Seelbach said:

Steve said:

It makes no sense as South Carolina never votes Dem in the general.

And Iowa does?

I don't recall advocating for Iowa to be the first step in the nominating process.

I think most people can agree that neither Iowa nor South Carolina should be first.

Dennis_Seelbach said:

As a now-SC resident, I can reliably state SC is anything but a joke. Certainly less than a distant Canadian province that 90% of folks couldn't find on a map. 

The former Governor just announced her candidacy for  the Republican Nomination and it getting a lot of buzz.

Biden was the Nominee because of South Carolina.

Of course SC started the Civil War and around that time a SC politician said that SC was too small to be a country and too large to be an insane asylum ( or something like that)

https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/south-carolina-quotes

STANV said:

Dennis_Seelbach said:

As a now-SC resident, I can reliably state SC is anything but a joke. Certainly less than a distant Canadian province that 90% of folks couldn't find on a map. 

The former Governor just announced her candidacy for  the Republican Nomination and it getting a lot of buzz.

Biden was the Nominee because of South Carolina.

Of course SC started the Civil War and around that time a SC politician said that SC was too small to be a country and too large to be an insane asylum ( or something like that)

https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/south-carolina-quotes

https://www.nps.gov/people/james-l-petigru.htm