The new plan rejects the current set of early Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina states and implements a process that will give priority to different states on the battlefield that choose to hold primary elections over caucus. Under the new structure, states will apply for early nomination competitions, and the rules committee will select up to five that can run before Super Tuesday, the first Tuesday in March.
All four current early states can apply to retain their seats, but Iowa’s status as the nation’s first will be particularly threatened, given that much of the white state is no longer a battlefield and required by U.S. law. to conduct caucasus.
The plan was approved by the Rules and Rules Committee at a meeting in Washington with only one disagreement, by Scott Brennan of Iowa.
States parties will have until June 3 to submit their applications. The Rules Committee will then hear presentations from interested countries and make a decision in July. The committee’s proposal will then have to be approved at the full DNC meeting in August or September.
The Commission will also look at the costs and difficulties of a campaign in a state, the states’ membership in a union and their ability to actually administer early competition. Primary dates are usually set by law, so countries wishing to hold early primary elections will need the cooperation of their legislatures and governors.
“This process lays the foundation for the 2024 presidential nomination calendar, which reflects our party’s values, builds trust in our institutions through transparent and stable processes and puts us in the strongest position to keep the White House in 2024. . “, Committee chairman James Roosevelt said as he presented the resolution. “It’s built around an idea that members raised at the beginning. He is designing a framework for a preliminary window that reflects our party’s voters and values in general. “
During the meeting, members supported ensuring that each region of the country is represented in the group of early states.
“I think it’s important that the Midwest is not a migratory country,” said Ken Martin of Minnesota.
Committee members also discussed the importance of regularly reviewing the early calendar.
“I do not think it is bad to send this message because it shows that we are a dynamic party that constantly values and that we will not stay at the status quo every four years,” said commission member Mo Elite.
Top Democrats have long criticized the party’s nomination calendar for being too focused on fewer diverse states and less accessible caucasus.
Members of the commission on Wednesday discussed their commitment to address diversity in the early states, not only in terms of racial and ethnic diversity, but also including LGBTQ and disability communities.
Iowa has come under particular pressure in recent years. Before 2020, the Iowa Democratic Party proposed adding “virtual caucasus” that would allow attendees to participate without having to be in a physical caucus place on a traditional Monday night. The plan was rejected by DNC due to security concerns, although the party held a series of satellite meetings for Iowans in various states or countries.
The very evening of the meeting in 2020 was filled with chaos. A new mobile app for reporting results from nearly 1,700 Caucasus sites across the state was not working properly and phone lines were backed up as organizers tried to recall their results. The result was confusion and delayed results that blunted the rebound that Iowa often gives to candidates who perform well.
Concerns about Iowa’s status also surfaced at Wednesday’s meeting.
“Let’s be very clear. In my opinion, this means that there are no traditional companies in the early composition, and I want to say this very clearly,” said Commissioner Elaine Camarque. “I was on a lot of caucasus. I think this is a remarkable exercise in a small democracy. But I think time has passed.
After the meeting, Brennan said Iowa would run, but acknowledged it would be a “challenge” for the state to retain its place at the helm.
“The process has yet to be completed. We have not yet applied. I will believe everyone’s word that this is a fair and open process. Until it happens,” he said.
“It’s a challenge every four years. People haven’t liked the four early state trials for a long time, and every four years it’s a battle. And this time it’s a fierce battle.”
Explaining his vote against, Brennan criticized the process that led to the resolution.
“It was not as open and transparent a process as I would have hoped,” Brennan said. “I cannot vote with a clear conscience for something in which I do not think the committee was fully involved in the original draft.”
This story has been updated with additional details.
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