Andrew Harnik/AP
Residents arrive to vote in the New Hampshire primary election at a polling place in Manchester on February 11, 2020.
CNN
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New Hampshire will hold its “first-in-the-nation” presidential primary on Jan. 23 of next year, putting the state at odds with national Democrats and President Joe Bidenwhich will not be on the primary ballot.
New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan made the announcement Wednesday at the statehouse in Concord.
“We didn’t get first-in-the-nation status from anybody, and we’re going to defend it vigorously,” Scanlan said before a bipartisan panel that included state GOP Gov. Chris Sununu and the chairs of the New Hampshire Republican Party. and the Democratic parties.
The primary is now scheduled to take place about a week later Iowa holds its Republican caucus on January 15creating the first start to the presidential nominating process since 2012.
Under state law, New Hampshire must hold its primary election before any other state’s primary election.
While the New Hampshire Republican contest will be recognized by the national party, the Jan. 23 date will make the state’s Democratic primary non-compliant with the Democratic National Committee updated calendar of nominations. That will likely cost the state delegates to the national convention next summer.
Under a Biden-backed plan approved by the DNC earlier this year, South Carolina – rather than New Hampshire – would be the first state to hold a certified primary, which is currently scheduled for 3 February. Feb. 6, the same day as Nevada — or face penalties, according to the plan.
The Biden campaign told the New Hampshire Democratic Party last month that it will not be on the primary ballot next year because he was “required” to comply with the DNC’s delegate selection rules.
It would be a violation of those rules for Biden or any Democrat to campaign in such an early contest in New Hampshire or even have his name on the ballot, though 21 Democrats, including the Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips and author Marianne Williamson, will be included in the list.
However, voters could still endorse Biden as a candidate on their ballot in January, and there is already a grassroots campaign underway, backed by prominent state lawmakers and activists, encouraging voters to do so.
Scanlan, a Republican, acknowledged Wednesday that a large number of write-in votes could mean extra work for election officials. But he said he’s “absolutely confident” New Hampshire will report primary results by the end of the night on Election Day.
CNN’s Ethan Cohen contributed to this report.
This story has been updated with additional information.