Biden Opts Out of 2024 New Hampshire Democratic Primary, Though Write-In Votes Remain a Possibility

President Joe Biden has decided not to include his name on the ballot for the 2024 Democratic primary in New Hampshire, according to an announcement from his reelection campaign on Tuesday. The decision comes as New Hampshire plans to proceed with its primary in violation of a newly restructured primary schedule endorsed by the White House.

In a letter to Raymond Buckley, the Chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, who is overseeing Biden’s reelection campaign, stated that although the President would like to participate in the New Hampshire primary, he is bound to adhere to the party’s regulations. Rodriguez indicated that Biden anticipates appearing on New Hampshire’s general election ballot as the Democratic nominee after formally securing the party’s nomination at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. He is committed to vigorously campaigning to gain every vote in the Granite State for the November election.

Last year, President Biden encouraged the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to alter the sequence of the 2024 primaries. He advocated for the replacement of Iowa’s leadoff caucus with South Carolina’s primary, aiming to give greater voice to Black and other minority voters who are a vital part of the Democratic base. In February, the DNC ratified a revised 2024 primary calendar, which begins with South Carolina’s primary on February 3, followed by New Hampshire and Nevada three days later.

However, New Hampshire has contested this rearrangement, asserting that it has historically been the host of the nation’s first primary—a tradition Iowa circumvented by holding caucuses instead. Leading Democratic figures in New Hampshire maintain that state law obligates them to hold the nation’s inaugural primary. They have pledged to proceed with the primary ahead of South Carolina, regardless of the DNC’s position.

In light of this defiance, the DNC has cautioned that such an action would result in an unsanctioned primary and could incur penalties, including the loss of delegates for New Hampshire at the 2024 Democratic convention in Chicago. Despite this, New Hampshire voters will still have the option to cast write-in votes for Biden during this unsanctioned primary. Some of the state’s key Democrats have also initiated a campaign to boost write-in support for the President.

New Hampshire has not yet established an official date for its 2024 primary. Reacting to Rodriguez’s letter, Buckley issued a statement, saying, “The reality is that Joe Biden will win the New Hampshire first-in-the-nation primary in January, secure the nomination in Chicago, and achieve reelection next November.”

It’s worth noting that President Biden is not the first incumbent to abstain from the New Hampshire primary. In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson also chose not to register for the New Hampshire primary. He nevertheless won through write-in votes, although Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy’s robust second-place performance in the state contributed to Johnson’s subsequent decision to not seek reelection.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about 2024 New Hampshire Democratic Primary

More about 2024 New Hampshire Democratic Primary

• DNC Approves New 2024 Primary Calendar
• New Hampshire State Law on Primaries
• History of New Hampshire Primaries
• Biden’s Reelection Campaign Announcements
• Past Presidents and New Hampshire Primaries
• DNC Sanctions for Unsanctioned Primaries
• Write-In Voting Guidelines in New Hampshire