In 1916, New Hampshire held what would eventually become the first in the nation primary. In 1920, now with twenty other states holding presidential preference primaries, NH held its election before any other state. From then on, NH held the first primary in the country for every presidential election.
“In 1913 Stephen A. Bullock, a State Representative from Richmond, proposed a bill before the legislature to allow voters to select presidential nominees. The House and Senate approved the bill and the New Hampshire governor signed it into law. All on the same day! The first presidential primary was held in March, 1916. But it wasn’t until 1952 that the state began to put the names of candidates onto the ballots. In 1977, New Hampshire’s legislature approved the primary’s ‘first in the nation’ status. They enacted a law which would eliminate any possible future encroaching on New Hampshire’s status of being first. The law stated the primary would be held on the Tuesday that was at least seven days before the date on which any other state held their primary.” Excerpt from A Presidential Aberration.
Now, in 2024, the Democratic National Committee has decided not to put Joe Biden’s name on our primary ballot here. They would rather start in South Carolina where the President fared much better voter wise four years ago. However, there’s that little issue of NH state law . . ."The presidential primary election shall be held on the second Tuesday in March or on a date selected by the secretary of state which is 7 days or more immediately preceding the date on which any other state shall hold a similar election, whichever is earlier."
So now we have Democrats and Independents who lean Democrat organizing a Pres. Biden write-in campaign for the upcoming primary. Just so you know, a write-in campaign has happened here before; in 1968 Pres. Lyndon Johnson won NH through a write-in campaign, only to drop out of the race nineteen days later.
As we have seen over the last several years, outright and frightening threats to our democracy have taken place throughout this nation whether it’s been attempts at voter suppression (sometimes successful); an attempted government coup; attacks on the rights of women, LGBTQ, minorities; POC; and the steady encroachment of oppressive extremism in our local, state and federal government.
Just so you know, the following are 21 of Pres. Biden’s accomplishments over the last three years:
1. Passed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package to increase investment in the national network of bridges and roads, airports, public transport, waterways, energy systems and national broadband internet.
2. Got more than 500 million life-saving COVID-19 vaccinations in the arms of Americans through the American Rescue Plan.
3. Ended a 30-year run of federal inaction on gun violence by signing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act creating enhanced background checks, closed the “boyfriend” loophole and provided funds for youth mental health.
4. Invested $369 billion for climate change, through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
5. Provided $10,000 to $20,000 in college debt relief to Americans with loans making under $125,000 a year.
6. Cut child poverty in half through the American Rescue Plan.
7. Capped prescription drug prices at $2,000 per year for seniors on Medicare through the Inflation Reduction Act.
8. Passed the COVID-19 relief deal that gave payments of up to $1,400 to many struggling citizens while supporting renters and increasing unemployment benefits.
9. Achieved historically low unemployment rates after the pandemic caused them to skyrocket.
10. Imposed a 15% minimum corporate tax on some of the largest corporations in the country, ensuring they pay their fair share, as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.
11. Recommitted America to the global fight against climate change by rejoining the Paris Agreement.
12. Strengthened the NATO alliance in support of Ukraine after the Russian invasion by endorsing the inclusion of world military powers Sweden and Finland.
13. Gave Medicare power to negotiate prescription drug prices by the Inflation Reduction Act, reduced government health spending.
14. Held Vladimir Putin accountable for his invasion of Ukraine by imposing stiff economic sanctions.
15. Boosted the budget of the Internal Revenue Service by nearly $80 billion to reduce tax evasion and increase revenue.
16. Created more jobs in one year (6.6 million) than any other president in U.S. history.
17. Reduced healthcare premiums under the Affordable Care Act by $800 a year as part of the American Rescue Plan.
18. Signed the PACT Act to address service members’ exposure to burn pits and other toxins.
19. Signed the CHIPS and Science Act to strengthen American manufacturing and innovation.
20. Reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act through 2027.
21. Halted all federal executions after the previous administration reinstated them after a 17-year freeze.
If you would like to see Pres. Biden continue in his work for the American people, would like to get involved with this campaign, or just want to know more about it, please click on to this link.
As Granny D once stated, “Democracy is not something we have, it is something we do.” Just so you know . . .