PA moving closer to earlier 2024 primary.
Pennsylvania Moves Closer to the Presidential Primary Spotlight
Pennsylvania is taking a bold step towards making its mark in the 2024 presidential primary. A state committee recently voted to move the primary date earlier to March 19, putting the Keystone State in the spotlight.
Currently, Pennsylvania’s primary is scheduled for the fourth Tuesday in April, which falls well after Super Tuesday in March when many other states hold their primaries. However, this date coincides with the start of Passover, a Jewish holiday.
“In my mind, the sooner, the better,”
– Republican state Sen. Dave Argall
The State Government Committee unanimously approved the measure to move the primary date, with Republican state Sen. Dave Argall leading the charge. While March 26 and April 2 are also options, Argall favors the earlier date.
“I was very pleased with the vote,” Argall told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “It will give Pennsylvania voters a strong voice.”
This change in the primary date could have significant implications for the 2024 election. Pennsylvania is a crucial battleground state in the general election, but it often takes a backseat during the presidential primaries. By the time the fourth Tuesday in April arrives, the front-runners have usually secured their nominations.
By moving up the primary date, Pennsylvania has the opportunity to become a key player in both the primary and the general election. This is especially important for Republicans who aim to win as many battleground states as possible in 2024.
“There seems to be a genuine bipartisan desire to give Pennsylvania voters more of a say in a presidential primary,”
– Sen. Dave Argall
Furthermore, this change would also impact the candidates. The deadline for signatures to get on the ballot would be moved up, requiring candidates to campaign in Pennsylvania earlier. Typically, candidates start collecting signatures 13 weeks before the primary. With a March 19 primary, they would need to begin the signature-gathering process on December 19.
Pennsylvania has been a swing state, shifting between red and blue over the years. In 2016, former President Donald Trump won the state by a narrow margin of 0.72 points. However, in 2020, President Joe Biden managed to flip the state in favor of Democrats by 1.2 points.
In the 2022 midterm elections, the Pennsylvania Senate race was one of the last to be called. Democratic candidate Sen. John Fetterman defeated Republican Mehmet Oz by 4.9 points, securing a crucial win for Democrats and helping them maintain control of the Senate.
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