WASHINGTON, Mich. (MIRS News) – President Joe Biden told a Democratic National Committee (DNC) panel Thursday the party needs racially diverse states with a primary election process to pick its presidential nominee in 2024.
In a letter to the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee in advance of Friday’s meeting to set the primary schedule, Biden wrote that the presidential nomination process needs an update that allows voters of color and working people a louder voice in choosing the nominee.
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Biden doesn’t mention Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan or any other state specifically in the letter, but it’s strongly implied that the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses are on thin ice. U.S. Rep. Debbie DINGELL (D) was quoted in other state media as saying Biden is pushing for Michigan to supplant Iowa as the first-in-the-nation selection process.
“Too often over the past 50 years candidates have dropped out or had their candidacies marginalized by the press and pundits because of poor performances in small states before voters of colors cast a vote,” Biden wrote.
The President flatly said caucuses should no longer be allowed as part of the nominating process. Requiring people to publicly announce support for a candidate and then stand around for hours in a common location knocks out anyone whose work schedule doesn’t allow for it.
Biden wants diverse states at the beginning of the process. He wants working class families, racial diversity and a mix of urban, suburban and rural voters. Again, Biden didn’t mention Michigan, but with the criteria he laid out, Michigan would seem to fit like a glove.
“We have always said that any road to the White House goes through the heartland and President Biden understands that,” wrote Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes and Dingell, who has worked with the late U.S. Sen. Carl Levin to make Michigan an early primary state.
“We are now one step closer to that becoming a reality and will work hard to earn the votes of the full DNC in February,” they said.
The MDP’s press release also includes quotes from U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, not Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
“Michigan is undoubtedly the best person to pick a president,” Gilchrist said. “Our rich diversity of all kinds makes us the perfect microcosm of America, and a great state to make deep investments in organizing power.”
The moves come after the state Senate voted 34-1 to move Michigan’s presidential primary from the second Tuesday of March to the second Tuesday of February, which would be Feb. 13 in 2024.
The one no vote was Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake), who said, “Democrats are optimistic Michigan’s presidential primary could be moved up. What does that mean for the GOP?”
Michigan Republican Party Chair Ron Weiser issued this short statement in response to today’s letter: “Michigan should have a very significant say in electing the next Republican President of the United States.”
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