We’re not even halfway through 2021, but the battle for the timing of the 2024 presidential primary and caucus is already well underway.
And the top Republicans of the four states that kick off the nominating timeline are making it clear that they will fight a decision by the Nevada Democrats to move the state’s silver contest to the top position on the White House road.
NEVADA LAW AIMS TO MAKE THE STATE THE FIRST OF THE NATION
Nevada Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak on Friday enacted a bill passed by the legislature by members of his own party that would turn the state’s presidential caucus into a primary. And the measure – AB126 – would move the competition to the first Tuesday in February of the presidential nomination years. Nevada is currently third on the Democratic nomination calendar, behind the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. It is fourth on the Republican calendar, behind Iowa, New Hampshire and the South Carolina primary.
For years, the blow against Iowa and New Hampshire – among some Democrats – has been that the states are too white, lack large urban areas, and are not representative of the Democratic Party, which has become increasingly diverse. over the past decades. Nevada and South Carolina are much more diverse and have larger metropolitan areas than Iowa or New Hampshire.
Signing the bill, Sisolak said, “It brings me great pride, as the diversity and culture of the people of the great state of Nevada undoubtedly represents the demographic makeup of who we are as a nation.”
Nevada Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak waves a newly enacted bill on Friday, June 11, 2021 in Las Vegas. The law would make Nevada the first to vote in the 2024 presidential primary elections, although national political parties would have to agree to changes in the timing or states parties could risk losing their delegates at presidential nomination conventions. (AP Photo / John Locher)
Even before the bill was signed, GOP Chairs Jeff Kaufman of Iowa, Steve Stepanek of New Hampshire, Drew McKissick of South Carolina and Michael McDonald of Nevada jointly released a statement on Tuesday that explained their opposition to the surge from Nevada Democrats.
“As leaders of the GOP of the four excluded states, we want to make it clear that we stand in solidarity to protect the schedule of presidential appointments as it has existed for many years,” said the four presidents in their statement. “Our alliance is strong and we will continue to work together to preserve this historic process.”
The Republican governors of Iowa and New Hampshire also strongly opposed the move. Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa has promised his state will do “whatever we can to maintain (our position) and I am confident we will”,
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And New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has vowed that “the state’s presidential primary will remain the nation’s first. What happens in Nevada stays in Nevada.”
The current push to overtake the Silver State to take the lead was sparked by longtime former Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, who for eight years served as Senate Majority Leader. The Democrat started making waves in December by urging his home state to move early on the appointment schedule.
Reid, who remains very influential in the National Democratic Party, was instrumental in moving the Nevada caucuses in 2008 from an afterthought to third in the Democratic presidential nomination calendar.
But the new law remains supported by national parties – the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Republican National Committee (RNC). If Nevada brought forward its contest date without national parties signing on the move, it could face sanctions and the loss of convention delegates.
The DNC is currently reviewing how their 2020 nomination process went and will not be making any decisions on the 2024 timeline until next year.
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“We will continue to let the process unfold, as it does every four years, and we look forward to hearing ideas and recommendations from all interested parties on the 2020 reforms and on the 2024 timeline at the appropriate time in the process, “DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison said in a statement on Friday.
RNC President Ronna McDaniel said in an interview with Fox New earlier this year that she did not “plan any changes” to the current GOP appointment schedule. But she added “it’s a bit too far” and that she “was not going to get ahead of the committee” in making the news.
Pence adds second stop to Iowa trip
Former Vice President Mike Pence will head a fundraiser for GOP Representative Randy Feenstra of Iowa next month, as former Vice President and potential Republican White House candidate in 2024 visits the nation’s first caucus state.
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Freenstra announced Friday that Pence will appear at the first Feenstra Family Picnic on July 16 in Sioux Center, Iowa.
The former vice president also speaks the same day in Des Moines at the annual summit of Family Leader, an influential conservative social organization in Hawkeye State. Two other potential Republican presidential candidates – former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem – are also addressing the confab.
Haley in the holy land
Another potential 2024 GOP candidate – former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under then-President Trump – will visit Iowa later this month here to cover the front page of a major state Republican Party fundraiser.
But this weekend, Haley is in Israel, on what she calls a “solidarity mission” with the United States’ longtime ally in the Middle East.
HALEY VISITS ISRAL AS PART OF THE “MISSION OF SOLIDARITY”
“No matter the challenges, the people of Israel always celebrate life and thank God for his blessings,” Haley said in a tweet with an image of her praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the religion’s holiest site. Jewish. “It is humbling to be joining prayer again in such a holy place.”
Haley is the latest of the GOP’s possible White House hopes – after Pompeo and Senator Ted Cruz from Texas – to travel to Israel in the wake of fighting between the country and Hamas forces in the neighboring Gaza Strip.
DeSantis fills campaign coffers ahead of 2022 re-election
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis – who experts also see as a potential presidential candidate in 2024 – is adding to his already impressive campaign budget as he runs for reelection next year.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Friday February 26, 2021 in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo / John Raoux)
(AP Photo / John Raoux)
DeSantis spent Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday fundraising in California and the state of Nevada early, before returning to Florida, a source close to the governor confirmed to Fox News.
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The governor, whose resistance to coronavirus restrictions at the height of the pandemic last year and early this year made him a popular figure among the country’s conservatives, now has around $ 39 million in funding. cash as he runs for re-election.
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