CONCORD, N.H. — President will not file to be on the primary ballot in New Hampshire this election cycle, his 2024 campaign informed the state Democratic Party on Tuesday.
“While the president desires to participate in the Primary, he is obligated as a Democratic candidate for President to comply with the Delegate Selection Rules for the 2024 Democratic National Convention set forth by the Democratic National Committee,” stated Julie Chávez Rodriguez, campaign manager for Biden for President, in a letter obtained by NBC News.
The DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee issued guidance on Tuesday, advising Democratic campaigns not to file for the primary ballot in New Hampshire, according to a source familiar with the events. Although the Democratic National Committee released a plan this year to make South Carolina the first presidential primary voting state, following Biden’s recommendation and replacing Iowa and New Hampshire, New Hampshire law mandates that the state holds the nation’s first primary.
“Following this guidance, Biden for President will abstain from submitting a Declaration of Candidacy for the Primary prior to Friday’s candidate filing deadline for the Primary,” Rodriguez added.
New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Raymond Buckley responded to the letter on X, stating: “The reality is that Joe Biden will win the NH FITN [first in the nation] Primary in January, win renomination in Chicago, and will be re-elected next November. NH voters know and trust Joe Biden, which is why he is leading Trump in NH by double digits.”
DNC Chair Jamie Harrison said in February that the new primary calendar “puts Black voters at the front of the process in South Carolina.” He added, “The Democratic Party looks like America, and so does this proposal.”
In the 2020 elections, Biden finished fifth in New Hampshire, but his victory in South Carolina gave him the momentum needed to secure the Democratic nomination.
Earlier on Tuesday, before the letter was reported, New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan stated, “I think it’s a mistake that he’s not putting his name on the ballot.” As the state’s top elections official, Scanlan ultimately selects the primary date.
On the presidential primary ballot in New Hampshire, there will be a list of all the candidates and a line for write-ins. This means that despite Biden’s absence from the ballot in New Hampshire, voters in the Democratic primary can still write in his name.
“If 50% of the voters write in Joe Biden’s name, then the challenge will be preparing to count those write-in votes at the end of the night when polls close,” said Scanlan, a Republican, in a speech at Saint Anselm College in Manchester. “One thing that we will strongly recommend to local election officials before the primary is that they enlist additional help to expedite the write-in counting process,” Scanlan added.
In his speech, Scanlan also explained why he believes New Hampshire should maintain its status as the first-in-the-nation primary state.
“New Hampshire is geographically small. It has a smaller media market compared to other states in the country, especially larger ones. We are a politically purple state. We have consistent high voter participation. And it is very easy for any United States citizen who qualifies to run for president to actually try and make it happen,” stated Scanlan.
New Hampshire has not yet set its primary date. Scanlan stated that it will be announced “sometime after the filing period.”
Despite not appearing on the primary ballot, Biden’s campaign manager anticipates his name will be on the general election ballot in November 2024.
“In accordance with New Hampshire law and guidance from the Secretary of State, the president looks forward to being listed as the Democratic Party’s nominee on New Hampshire’s general election ballot after officially securing the nomination at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. He will tirelessly campaign to earn every vote in the Granite State next November,” Rodriguez concluded.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
