DNC Calendar Changes and the Future of Democratic Presidential Candidates
In a shocking letter addressed to the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee, President Joe Biden outlines a new vision for the future of the Democratic primary lineup. Biden outlined in the letter that he seeks to broaden the diversity of those voting in early caucuses by replacing South Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, and Nevada, states that have a high Black and Latino populations, over the current leading caucus of Iowa, a state 90% white. The president addressed in his letter, “We must ensure that voters of color have a voice in choosing our nominee {...} for decades, Black voters, in particular, have been the backbone of the Democratic Party but have been pushed to the back of the early primary process. We rely on these voters in elections but have not recognized their importance in our nominating calendar. It is time to stop taking these voters for granted, and time to give them a louder and earlier voice in the process.” Biden’s letter is in agreement with numerous people who believe the deciding primaries of Iowa and New Hampshire are not demographically and geographically representative of America.
Since the proposal, the Rules and Bylaws Committee that formulate the convention rules, has voted almost unanimously to approve Biden’s proposal with minor pushback from Iowa and New Hampshire members. The revised proposition would eliminate Iowa entirely in the 2024 primary calendar with South Carolina on February 3rd, followed by Nevada, New Hampshire, Georgia and Michigan. Although this lineup has yet to be fully decided by the entire Democratic National Committee, Biden’s move would upend 50 years of political precedent and shake up future Democratic nominees, including Biden himself, who has 2024 re-election ambitions.
The South Carolina primaries have personally been accredited to Biden’s presidential revival after defeats in the 2020 Iowa caucuses. Biden’s massive support among the Black voters of South Carolina, culminated in a landslide victory, granting him the party’s nomination. If the trend of Black voters as the key to primary success continues, Biden's policy secures him safely within popular South Carolina support. Georgia and Michigan were also states that allowed for the Biden-Harris presidential victory in 2020, as reported by AP.
Looking ahead, if the new primary lineup were to occur in 2028 in a hypothetical but likely run by Vice President Kamala Harris, her prominence and appeal within Georgia, Michigan, and South Carolina could too lead to her chance at nomination. Other contenders boosted by the new plan include Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, and Senator from Georgia Raphael Warnock. With their positions in their respective home states, they could amass much momentum needed for possible nomination. Especially for Warnock after his December Senate re-election win, Warnock reigns the political podium hailing from a battleground state. The Senator managed to survive two elections both ending in runoffs that were formulated to disenfranchise the black vote. He was also able to raise a total of $300 million within his two campaigns as he changed the landscape of the once Southern red state. If he chooses a presidential run, the new plan could fall in his favor for the remainder of his bright career.
For the past election cycles, the overwhelming power of the Black vote for Democrats has been observed and noted. In 2017’s special Senate seat election for Alabama’s vacant spot, Democrat Doug Jones managed to win an upset victory in the deeply conservative red state through the massive support of Black voters. 96% of the Black vote and 98% of Black women elected Jones to Congress. The new initiative manages to deconstruct the outdated nomination system to pave the way for the new faces of the Democratic party and the leaders of America.
Christine Li is a sophomore at Millennium Brooklyn High School and a Next-Gen Civic Fellow. She is passionate about engaging the youth vote and enacting criminal justice reform through action and legislation. Christine hopes to extend her interest in higher education through a major in Political Science