We cannot have the next contested primary beginning with IA and NH.

[My Pet Orangutan]

In particular, white than white NH must go (I have suggested CT as an alternative). Dumping NH would allow IA to move to a primary.

Now, rather than later, is the time to move. Dems next contested primary contested will be in 2028. These are my thoughts, but, after 2020, it is clear the process needs urgent reform.

EDIT: Connecticut

White 65.9%
Hispanic 16.9%
Black/AA 12.2%
Asian 5.0%
Native American 0.6%
Two or more races 2.5%

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/CT/PST045219

[empedocles]

1. Imagine if Bernie was the Dem nominee v. trump?

[My Pet Orangutan]

3. I can. 1972.

[PSPS]

10. Yep.

[NurseJackie]

26. You are correct!

Perfect comparison!

By the way: I applaud all of the Democratic primary rivals who (somewhat) simultaneously withdrew and ended their campaigns.

[Demsrule86]

2. I think South Carolina should be added, Iowa needs to go and CT would be a very good alternative.

Have the first Primaries on the same day. We keep Nevada.

[Turin_C3PO]

13. California and New York

might also be good states to go first. They're very diverse and represent our party well. Even Florida would work.

[Demsrule86]

21. No, too big. It cost to much to compete.

[Turin_C3PO]

28. True.

New Mexico is pretty diverse and it would be cheap. Plus the Dems there are kind of in the middle between centrist and left so a good candidate could emerge.

[Demsrule86]

30. New Mexico is a good choice for sure.

[Demsrule86]

22. And consider such big states would likely have lead to a Sanders nomination. And he would

not have been able to win back the blue states. We need first states that help field candidates who have a shot at winning.

[matt819]

4. The NH Secretary of State

Has vowed the NH would remain the first primary.

Of course, that can get very weird as other states move theirs up.

I would be happy with maybe 4-6 primary dates. Mix of larger and smaller states.

[My Pet Orangutan]

6. If you recall MI and FL in 2008

The DNC can withdraw certification of contests that buck the schedule.

[Buckeyeblue]

5. Agreed....Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin should be the first 3.

Then have an east coast swing, followed by a west coast.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

16. I agree.

I'd prefer to start with the "blue wall" states, rather than some states that are virtually guaranteed to vote strongly Republican or Democratic in a general election anyway.

[Demsrule86]

23. That makes sense as those states are absolutely necessary for any Democratic win.

[MineralMan]

7. We shouldn't, but we can.

That kind of change will have to come from the two parties, I think.

[My Pet Orangutan]

8. Which is why we do it now.

[MineralMan]

11. Setting up a Democratic White House and

undoing the evil Trump did is going to come first. We're not going to start reconfiguring the 2024 primary structure for a while. There's a lot of far more important things to do right now.

I don't know about you, but I'm in no position to affect how the parties do their primaries. Maybe you're in some sort of position in the DNC where you can do that. I don't know.

[My Pet Orangutan]

15. We always leave reforming democracy till last.

May I remind you that IA, NH would have set us up for Trump v Sanders.

Electoral reform must be a priority.

[MineralMan]

17. And yet, we have Joe Biden.

Those two early primaries no longer have the clout they once did. Will the process be changed? I have no idea and, as I said, I'm in no position to demand changes. Are you? If so, then have at it.

[My Pet Orangutan]

18. If we are going stick the knife into NH

tis' best that it be quickly done

I bear New Hampshire no enmity. I have fond memories of contests gone by, but the demographics are so unrepresentative of America to today, it has to go.

[Demsrule86]

25. Not now.

[My Pet Orangutan]

27. If not now, when?

3 months before the midterms? It should coincide with voting rights reform - and that should be in the first 100 days.

[Demsrule86]

29. We have way more important priorities...like the GA race. Let's get on with

stuff Americans care about.

[My Pet Orangutan]

33. Repeating myself

It should coincide with voting rights reform - and that should be in the first 100 days.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

9. Amen

My choices:
1) National primary
2) Larger, more diverse states, like Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania.

The caucus process needs to end. Period.

If we want to end the Electoral College, let's start by allowing popular vote count - not delegates - to pick our nominee.

[SidDithers]

12. Let 'em be first...

Just don't treat them as important.

If the 2020 primaries and election showed anything, it's that Iowa and NH have no bearing on the real outcome.

Sid

[My Pet Orangutan]

19. The media won't discount them.

[PSPS]

14. The only solution is a national primary

Letting rural sparsely-populated states set the tone and agenda doesn't make any sense.

[Gothmog]

20. Iowa and New Hampshire do not represent the base of the party

Their role in Democratic primaries are over

[JCMach1]

24. Rotate the stinking primary schedule

For all states that want to vote early in the process

[Sogo]

31. I think there should be four regional primaries on a rotating schedule as to who's first.

The candidates could travel at less expense within a concentrated region rather than jetting off to far flung states all the time, and many more people would get the chance to meet them up close and in-person as we do in the first two states. I'm in Iowa, and I really don't feel it's fair that we have such prolonged exposure to the candidates, while other states barely meet them, if at all, and have to rely on media and social media coverage of them.

[DrToast]

32. Nevada would be a good place to start

Pretty representative of the party demographically.