In doing so, he has set off a frenzied scramble among competing early states that are apoplectic over the proposal.
The Democratic National Committee "did not give New Hampshire the first-in-the-nation primary," Buckley said. "It is not theirs to take away. We will be holding our primary first."
“It appears Joe Biden is not just trying to transform America, but he’s attempting to transform the way we elect presidents, and his impact is going to be felt for generations to come,” South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Trav Robertson said.
“It’s a shame the White House’s short-sighted decision risks splintering attention from candidates, denying voters crucial opportunities to connect with candidates and hear their visions and policy priorities,” Shaheen said in a statement.
The reshuffling, which party insiders expect to be formally proposed at a DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting that starts Friday, is aimed at simultaneously enhancing the influence of nonwhite voters in the nomination process and ensuring Democrats pick standard-bearers who can compete effectively against Republicans in battleground states.
Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada voiced their opposition to Biden’s recommendation, highlighting their state’s status as a presidential battleground, unlike deep red South Carolina.
“We strongly believe the first presidential nominating contest should be held in a competitive, pro-labor state that supports voting access and reflects all of America’s diversity — in other words, a state that actually aligns with the DNC’s own priorities for updating the calendar,” the senators said in a statement Thursday night. “This proposed new order for the early states disregards the broad coalition of national organizations and leaders calling for Nevada to go first, and instead elevates a state that doesn’t meet the criteria to start off this process.”
Dozens of other states submitted bids to join the early states, which are given permission by the Democratic and Republican parties to hold their nominating contests before the rest.
As president and leader of his party, Biden, whom most expect to run essentially unopposed for the Democratic nomination in 2024, carries weight.
Some in Iowa have threatened to hold their caucuses early regardless of what the DNC says, but states that try to cut in line or disobey the national party risk losing their representation at the national conventions, where presidential nominees are formally selected.