On April 2, the Republican Party’s National Rules Committee issued its recommendations for presidential primary timing in 2012 and beyond. If the Republican Party National Committee approves the idea in August, and if the Republican Party’s national convention Rules Committee approves the idea, and the full national convention also approves the idea, then it will be party policy.
The plan would be that Iowa would go first with its caucus, followed by the New Hampshire primary, both in the first week of February. South Carolina could holds its primary, and Nevada could hold its caucus, as soon after New Hampshire as they wish.
Then the 20 smallest population states and territories would hold their events, during the third week of February. The remaining states would be divided into three groups. A lottery would be held to determine the order of the events for the next three groups. The winning group would hold its events during the first week in March. The second group would hold its events in the fourth week in March, and the last group in the 3rd full week in April. Thus, the season would be all over by April. By contrast, under the existing system, there are presidential primaries in May and June.
The 20 small states, plus territories, that would hold events in late February would be Alaska, Delaware, D.C., Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Northern Mariana Islands.
The larger states, which would participate in a lottery to see which groups went first, are grouped this way:
Group X: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin (16 states).
Group Y: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia (9 states).
Group Z: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania (7 states).
Thanks to Rob Richie and Rick Hasen for this news.
Too confusing. Iowa, New Hampshire, then the rest of the country by region. New England, South, Mid-Atlantic, Ect, Ect, would work better.
Each of X, Y, and Z have sub-regions:
X: WA-OR-UT-CO (24); KS-OK-MO-KY-MD (32); TX (32); MN-WI (16); AR-LA-MS-AL (22); total 126 representatives.
Y: CA-AZ (61); VA-NC-TN (33); MA-CT-NJ (28); IN (9); total 131 representatitives.
Z: IL-MI-OH (52); NY-PA (48); FL-GA (38) total 138 representatives.
Preliminary: IA-NH-SC-NV 16 representatives.
Small State: HI-AK-NM-ID-MT-WY-ND-SD-NE-WV-DC-DE-VT-ME-RI 45 representatives.
The preliminary and small states are dispersed enough and small enough that a candidate is unlikely to develop overwhelming momentum based on the results.
If the primaries were strictly regional they could tilt the result toward a certain result, and it would be easier for the campaigns to pander to each region in turn.
They knuckled under to two small states with an incredibly spoiled sense of entitlement AGAIN. It’s about time for the major parties to tell the people of Iowa and New Hampshire something that they don’t want to hear:
“We’re sorry, folks, but you are NOT better people, smarter people, or more important people than the residents of the other 48 states. You may think you are, but you’re not.”
too confusing..its time for one national primary in Jan for all states at once, with public funding of just the debate tv time and everything else the campaigns have to raise
I like this idea. I am not sure if it’s the best idea. But it is a step in the right direction.
One last note:
I would favor a system like this because a local no-body could win some small states and make a push for the larger states.
Right now the media almost chooses the few DEMs and GOP candidates that “the people” are supposed to choose from(i know this is GOP specific). If the media ignores some person then the less informed GOP super voters who don’t get out there and research and vote who is really the best GOP candidate just follows the media’s recommendations.