NH AG accuses national Dems of voter suppression in primary decisions
New Hampshire Attorney General Accuses National Democrats of Voter Suppression
New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella is taking the battle between national and state Democrats to a whole new level. He has accused them of voter suppression and has even sent a cease-and-desist order.
“Falsely telling New Hampshire voters that a New Hampshire election is ‘meaningless’ violates New Hampshire voter suppression laws,” Assistant Attorney General Brendan O’Donnell wrote to Minyon Moore and James Roosevelt, Jr, co-chairs of the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee.
The dispute stems from the decision made by the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee last year to have South Carolina hold the party’s first-in-the-nation primary instead of New Hampshire. Since then, New Hampshire has been fighting to maintain its primary status.
According to the rules set by the DNC, states that break the primary calendar order can have their delegates cut by 50%, and candidates who campaign in those states will not receive any delegates. However, the New Hampshire attorney general’s office disagrees with the national party’s assessment of the primary.
“Regardless of whether the DNC refuses to award delegates to the party’s national convention based on the results of the January 23, 2024, New Hampshire democratic Presidential Primary Election, that election is not ‘meaningless,’” O’Donnell wrote. “Your statements to the contrary are false, deceptive, and misleading.”
The attorney general’s office has warned the DNC to stop engaging in any conduct that would violate state law or face further enforcement action.
Despite President Joe Biden not appearing on the New Hampshire primary ballot, New Hampshire Democrats are still expecting a significant voter turnout.
“Well, it’s safe to say in New Hampshire, the DNC is less popular than the NY Yankees,” New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Raymond Buckley said. “State law requires the New Hampshire Secretary of State to conduct the first-in-the-nation primary and he is going to follow the law — period. Nothing has changed, and we look forward to seeing a great Democratic voter turnout on January 23rd.”
Democratic candidates Rep. Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson will be on the primary ballot, and they have voiced their concerns about voter suppression in the 2024 Democratic primary.
“The fact that the president is not here, the fact that the Democratic Party is telling everybody this is meaningless, but yet they’re doing the write-in campaign and have a super PAC set up here, I think that is all you need to know,” said Rep. Dean Phillips.
Why do Democrats in New Hampshire believe that relocating the first-in-the-nation primary diminishes their state’s influence in the presidential nomination process?
Ire Democrats have been vocal about their disagreement with this decision, believing that it diminishes the influence of their state in the presidential nomination process. Attorney General Formella’s accusations of voter suppression come as part of this ongoing dispute.
The cease-and-desist order sent by Attorney General Formella asserts that the actions of national Democrats in describing New Hampshire’s elections as “meaningless” are in violation of the state’s voter suppression laws. The claim is based on the belief that such statements may deter residents of New Hampshire from participating in the electoral process, therefore suppressing their voice in choosing their preferred candidates for office.
This accusation highlights the deep division within the Democratic Party, with state Democrats in New Hampshire feeling their concerns and opinions have been dismissed by the national body. The decision to relocate the first-in-the-nation primary to South Carolina has triggered a sense of frustration and disenfranchisement among New Hampshire Democrats, leading to this heated exchange between Attorney General Formella and the national committee.
The dispute over the primary selection process underscores the power struggle within the Democratic Party. While the national committee has the authority to determine the primary schedule, this decision has been met with strong resistance from New Hampshire Democrats, who have long prided themselves on their role in the early stages of the presidential election.
Moreover, New Hampshire has a long-standing tradition of grassroots politics and direct voter engagement. The state’s smaller size allows for candidates to interact more closely with voters, giving them a unique opportunity to gauge the sentiments and concerns of the electorate. By moving the first-in-the-nation primary to South Carolina, many New Hampshire Democrats feel that this crucial aspect of the democratic process is being undermined.
Attorney General Formella’s move to accuse the national Democrats of voter suppression is a significant escalation of the dispute. It signals the determination of New Hampshire Democrats to fight for their rightful place in the nomination process, asserting that their state and its voters should not be sidelined by decisions made at the national level.
The legal ramifications of this accusation remain to be seen. However, the broader implications of this conflict are likely to reverberate throughout the Democratic Party, with the potential to impact the upcoming presidential nomination process. The rift between state and national Democrats in New Hampshire highlights the challenges faced by a party seeking unity and cohesive decision-making ahead of crucial elections.
As the dispute continues, it is clear that New Hampshire Democrats are resolute in their stance. Attorney General Formella’s cease-and-desist order demonstrates their determination to protect the rights of voters in their state and to ensure that their voices are heard in the democratic process. Whether this accusation holds legal ground or not, it underscores the deep divisions within the Democratic Party and the ongoing struggle for control and influence in the nomination process.
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