On June 12, 2020, the New Hampshire Secretary of State announced that the state would schedule its first-in-the-nation presidential primary for February 9, 2021, despite the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) rules that would delay its primary until after Super Tuesday. This decision defies the DNC’s rules, which aim to minimize the importance of early voting states to give a fairer chance to candidates focusing on later, larger primaries. The state is citing the importance of the “First-in-the-Nation primary” status for New Hampshire’s longevity as a politically important state in the election season. New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Secretary of State Bill Gardner and State Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley have issued statements noting their concerns about not having an early primary and their hope that the DNC could work out a compromise wherein New Hampshire would be pandemic-prepared and still able to hold an early primary.
New Hampshire announces first-in-the-nation presidential primary, defying DNC
