In a move that would throw the nomination calendar into further turmoil, New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner is now threatening to move the state's primary into early or mid-December unless Nevada backs down on its decision to hold its caucus on a mid-January date.
New Hampshire is traditionally the first state to hold a primary election, making it an important state in the presidential nomination process. By moving up the date of their primary, New Hampshire is hoping to have a larger impact on the race and potentially influence the outcome.
The Republican primary race is a series of state-level elections in which registered Republicans vote for their preferred candidate for the presidential nomination. The candidate who receives the most delegates from these state elections ultimately becomes the Republican nominee for president.
The New Hampshire primary is seen as a crucial test for candidates, as it is the first primary election and can help them gain momentum and media attention. It also provides an early indication of the strength of each candidate's campaign and can influence the decisions of voters in future primary races.
New Hampshire law states that their primary must be held at least 7 days before any other state's primary or caucus. The Secretary of State in New Hampshire has the authority to choose the specific date within this time frame. In 2020, the primary was moved up to February 11th, making it the second state to hold a primary after Iowa.
The date change of the New Hampshire primary can have a domino effect on other states' primary races. In order to maintain their state's influence in the nomination process, other states may move up their primary dates as well. This can create a more condensed and competitive primary season, as candidates must campaign in multiple states at once.