| |
Dems to Finalize Nominating Calendar 07/24 06:21
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats are poised to lock in the party's 2028
presidential nominating schedule on Friday, likely cementing a dramatic break
from decades of tradition by keeping Iowa off the top of the calendar and
elevating more racially diverse states.
Either South Carolina or Nevada is expected to go first, and each state has
aggressively campaigned for the coveted spot.
The decision by the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws
Committee will need to be approved by the full organization, which is scheduled
to meet in August.
The overhaul reflects Democrats' effort to give greater influence to states
that better mirror the party's diverse coalition, particularly Black and Latino
voters, after years of a calendar led by Iowa and New Hampshire, two states
with overwhelmingly white electorates.
"I think that it is good that we don't take the order for granted, and just
copy and paste it every cycle," said New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a
progressive considered a potential 2028 candidate.
The decision will also shape the opening stage of what is expected to be a
crowded Democratic presidential primary. Without an incumbent or clear
frontrunner, the states that vote first could once again play an outsized role
in determining which candidates gain momentum, attract donors and emerge as
viable contenders.
Republicans still need to do their calendar. They're expected to stick with
their traditional early-state lineup led off by Iowa and New Hampshire.
South Carolina and Nevada compete for the top spot
President Joe Biden successfully pushed to move South Carolin a to the front
of Democrats' 2024 calendar after the state revived his struggling 2020
presidential campaign. South Carolina has long been the first Southern contest
and has served as a key test of candidates' support among Black voters.
But with Democrats now preparing for a wide-open presidential primary, the
fight over the calendar has become more contentious.
In May, Democratic leaders in a handful of southern states lobbied for South
Carolina to reprise its role as the party's first-in-the-nation contest holder,
arguing in a letter to the DNC that the state best represents the initial
playing field for presidential candidates to build the coalitions needed to win
and serves as "a moral and political compass for our party and our nation."
Nevada has mounted an equally aggressive campaign, arguing that it better
reflects the modern Democratic coalition by combining racial diversity, a
strong union presence and battleground-state status.
Nevada has one of the nation's largest Hispanic populations, a sizable Black
electorate and is home to the influential Culinary Workers Union, giving
candidates an early test with key Democratic constituencies.
"If you want to have a robust indicator of what an American electorate will
be like, that will put us in the strongest position to put forth a primary
candidate, I think it's pretty clear that Nevada should be first," Nevada Rep.
Susie Lee said this week.
Black leaders have pushed back, arguing that moving South Carolina aside
after just one cycle would diminish the power of Black voters in the Democratic
Party. Roughly one-quarter of South Carolina's population is Black, according
to the U.S. Census.
"If South Carolina gets quietly bumped after one cycle of convenient praise,
that sends a message louder than any speech at a Democratic dinner: the
gratitude was performance, not policy," Rev. Al Sharpton said in a statement.
The DNC has opted to select four early states -- one from each region of the
country -- while also considering whether to add a fifth.
For the Midwest slot, Illinois, Iowa and Michigan submitted bids. Michigan
is viewed as a leading contender for the regional position but did not seek the
first overall spot.
Order could shape wide-open presidential race
The calendar decision is one of the first major milestones in what's
expected to be a tumultuous two-year sprint to the Democratic nomination.
There has not been a truly open Democratic presidential primary -- without
an incumbent president or a dominant frontrunner -- in almost two decades.
Potential White House hopefuls have already begun laying the groundwork in
South Carolina. Many have partnered with the state Democratic Party on
listening tours, appeared alongside influential Rep. Jim Clyburn at his annual
fish fry, spoken at party fundraisers and held meet-and-greet events with
activists.
Michigan has also become an increasingly attractive destination for
prospective candidates. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg moved to
the state several years ago and has steadily built political relationships
there, making an early Michigan primary a potentially significant boost to his
prospects and those of other candidates focused on battleground states.
|
|
