“The DNC did not give New Hampshire the first-in-the-nation primary and it is not theirs to take away," said Ray Buckley, chair of the New Hampshire Democrats. "We have survived past attempts over the decades and we will survive this."
Biden placed fifth in the 2020 New Hampshire primary, leaving the state for South Carolina on primary night, before results were announced.
Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, both New Hampshire Democrats, also used strong words in defense of the first-in-the-nation primary.
In a statement released Thursday, Shaheen called the White House’s proposal a "short-sighted decision risks splintering attention from candidates, denying voters crucial opportunities to connect with candidates and hear their visions and policy priorities.”
Hassan said, "We will always hold the first in the nation primary, and this status is independent of the president’s proposal or any political organization.”
Rep. Annie Kuster echoed the defense of New Hampshire holding on to its first-in-the-nation status.
“Because of its size, geography, and political participation, New Hampshire is perfectly-situated to host the FITN primary,” she said in a statement Thursday. “The Granite State gives candidates the opportunity to connect with voters one-on-one to make their case, strengthen their messaging, and allows a wide range of candidates to compete.”
-- Rebecca Morin and Glenn Sabalewski
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