Governor Chris Sununu of New Hampshire said last year that it was “Never going to happen” when asked about the possibility of the state losing its first-in-the-nation presidential primary status. However, the Democratic National Committee did ultimately demote New Hampshire to second on the primary calendar after pressure from President Joe Biden. Despite the state’s best efforts, the Democratic Party has stripped the primary of its delegates, rendering it purely symbolic. Biden will also not appear on the New Hampshire ballot. However, the state is refusing to relinquish its top primary spot, setting the stage for a showdown between state and national party officials.
The New Hampshire primary holds significant historical and cultural importance for the state, as it has been the first primary contest in the United States for over 100 years. The primary season is set to begin on January 23 and expectations are mixed on the impact of the primary demotion. Despite the ongoing rift between state and national party officials, some top New Hampshire Democrats have backed a grassroots effort calling on voters to write in the president’s name on their primary ballots. The general election is still expected to take precedence and some political observers are anticipating that the primary tiff will not have a significant impact in the long run.