Iowa has held the top spot since 1972, but technical issues plagued his Democratic caucus two years ago. It sparked calls for change and calls within the party that Democrats, whose largest and most loyal base are black voters, should start somewhere more racially diverse.

The states that have made their case for three days at meetings of the Democrats’ rules and regulations committee run the gamut, from sprawling red strongholds like Texas to perennial battlegrounds like Michigan. Members plan to vote in August, followed by a full Democratic National Committee vote likely to take place the following month. These could change the current order of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina – or keep the same list.

However, the issue may ultimately prove moot for the 2024 presidential election. If President Joe Biden chooses to run for a second term, the party may have little appetite for crafting a solid primary schedule that would potentially allow a another Democrat to challenge him for the nomination.

The Republican National Committee has already decided to keep Iowa first in its presidential nomination process. Many of his presidential candidates in early 2024 are already flocking in the state.

Democratic Party leaders voted in April to reopen the nominations calendar, allowing up to five states to vote before Super Tuesday in early March.

The party considers factors such as diversity, electoral competitiveness and logistical feasibility. That means looking at states’ racial and ethnic makeup, union membership rates, and size in terms of population and geography — all of which can affect opportunities for direct voter engagement and travel and advertising costs.

Also important are states that have taken steps to make it easier to vote, in response to the tightening of voting restrictions by many Republican-led legislatures.

The scramble to be first is not new. Iowa moved its 2008 caucus to Jan. 3 — when some residents were still recovering from raucous New Year’s Eve celebrations — to ensure it stayed ahead of other states trying to jump ahead of it.

In its presentation Thursday, Iowa promised to revamp its caucus, relying more on mail-in voting so results can be available sooner.

“We recognize that the caucuses, how they have been conducted since the 1970s, are no longer aligned with a vibrant and just 21st century democracy,” said Ross Wilburn, chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party and lawmaker from the Iowa. State. “In order to continue to grow our party, we need to make changes.”

Still, the Iowa team argued for preserving traditions of allowing presidential candidates to present themselves to the nation from small-town living rooms or working on the state fair pork chop grill. .

If Democrats decide to bypass Iowa, it could open the door to South Carolina, whose population is 27% black compared to Iowa’s 4%, and where Biden’s campaign was revived in 2020 after major struggles in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Due to flight delays, South Carolina was presenting its case to the DNC committee on Friday.

Nevada passed legislation last year to move from a caucus to a primary, and the state is pushing to go first. But that could mean displacing not just Iowa but also New Hampshire, another predominantly white state currently voting second.

“It’s time we had a primary process that isn’t stuck in the past and tradition for tradition’s sake,” Democratic strategist Rebecca Lambe told committee members. “We deserve a primary that honors the future of our party and the future of our country.”

The Lambe and Nevada delegation trumpeted the state’s large Hispanic population, new laws allowing for easier voting and strong union membership. They also pointed to Nevada’s status as a swing state, its geographic range from cities like Las Vegas to rural areas, and the fact that it has only two media markets.

New Hampshire Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan defended their state, whose delegation brought loot bags containing maple syrup and a cup of coffee from the Red Arrow, a 24-hour restaurant in Manchester who has been an essential candidate for decades. .

Shaheen said the state’s small size “forces candidates to roll up their sleeves, get into the details of their policies, and win the support of every New Hampshire voter.”

She also warned that “stripping New Hampshire of its longstanding position” could hurt Democrats running in future Senate and congressional races. This echoed similar concerns raised by the Iowa delegation, which said their state could become more heavily Republican if GOP presidential hopefuls continue to travel there frequently while Democrats focus their attention elsewhere. .

New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Raymond Buckley noted that The Associated Press called the state’s 2020 primary less than four hours after the polls closed — a veiled blow to Iowa, whose results were so flawed the AP never declared winner.

“We’ve been running presidential primaries for over 100 years,” Buckley said, “and not once have we had any reported problems.”

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