(Source: MIRS.news, Published 11/29/2022) The state Senate has approved, 34-1, moving up Michigan's presidential primary election. The action comes as a win for Michigan Democrats, who've been lobbying the national party to be chosen to kick off the presidential nominating process.
During April of this year, a panel of Democratic National Committee (DNC) members voted to effectively eliminate Iowa's first-in-the-nation status for presidential primaries, with the party's Rules and Bylaws Committee removing various states of their waivers to hold nominating contests before the rest of the United States.
With all states now able to submit applications to become ground zero for the Democratic presidential nominating process ahead of the 2024 elections, Michigan has been vocally competing with U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D) and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) leading the charge in Washington, D.C.
The legislation, SB 1207 sponsored by term-limited Republican Sen. Wayne A. Schmidt (R-Traverse City), will move Michigan's presidential primary election from the second Tuesday of March to the second Tuesday of February.
Of course, Schmidt said his bill can be discussed in political terms. However, for him, it wouldn't matter if former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder was possibly looking at a presidential bid or present-day Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, "Michigan should be at the front end."
Although he doesn't want to crowd out smaller states from the opportunity to play a critical role in the upcoming presidential elections, he argues that Michigan – whether it's because of manufacturing, agriculture, its Midwestern location or status as a Great Lakes State – "we're truly more representative of the United States as a whole rather than far flung San Francisco or whatever people come out of New York City."
"There might be one candidate that's announced that it would penalize, and oh well, too bad," Schmidt said, likely referencing past President Donald Trump, when asked about the Republican Party potentially being penalized in future election cycles because of the legislation.
From an economic standpoint, Schmidt anticipates the legislation having a great impact.
"I think that presidential campaigns would be visiting here more often, that would cause more economic growth. But I think the biggest thing is that the voters of Michigan would see these candidates earlier, and get a much better feel for who they are," Schmidt said. "And hopefully, those candidates, on either side of the aisle, will respond to what they see here in Michigan and even our fellow Great Lake states."
The bill passed this afternoon with no discussion and a ‘no’ vote from Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake).
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has already committed to its schedule for the presidential selection process, with Iowa and New Hampshire remaining at the forefront. However, in January 2021, the Iowa Republican Party chair at the time said: "we will stand shoulder to shoulder in this fight" when it came to safeguarding the Iowa Democratic Party's place.
Schmidt said he hopes RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel – the past chair of the Michigan Republican Party – could be open to looking at Michigan as an early state. If Michigan holds an early primary without RNC approval, the GOP delegation risks a loss of delegates and/or a poor draw on the hotels when the 2024 convention takes place in Milwaukee.
"Putting Michigan going forward – up at the top, or the beginning I should say – makes a difference, not (just in) this race but many races into the future," Schmidt said. "We're dealing in our year snapshots, so let's think longer term."
