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New Hampshire Primary Season

© Christina Coruth

CNN is in town, along with reporters from all the major news media. Famous and not so famous politicians have been spotted at town halls, in living rooms, and knocking on the doors of private citizens. Political pamphlets arrive in the mail and phone calls from volunteers implore, "Vote for our candidate, he's the best."

It must be Presidential Primary season in New Hampshire.

In recent years controversy has surrounded New Hampshire's status as the first-in-the-nation primary state. Challenges have come from other states attempting to hold their primaries before New Hampshire's primary. As a result, New Hampshire passed a law that directs the NH Secretary of State to select a primary date that is seven days prior to any "similiar election." In 1996, the Legislature narrowed the scope of that law when it directed that the primary would be held on the Tuesday, seven days prior to any "similar election."

The combination of New Hampshire's law and the desire of some states to usurp New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation status has resulted in a lot of pre-primary date shuffling. Some states would like to take first place and others have proposed a first-in-the-nation regional primary. Thus far New Hampshire has been able to hold off the challenges.

New Hampshire didn't set out to have the first-in-the-nation presidential primary. The first ever primary was scheduled for the third Tuesday in May of 1916. In 1915, the State Legislature changed the date to the second Tuesday in March. This was done for a very practical reason. The second Tuesday in March was, and still is, Town Meeting Day. New Hampshire's Constitution directs the towns to meet to conduct their business and hold local elections on that day. Being of thrifty nature, the legislators realized that holding the presidential primary on Town Meeting Day would prevent them from having to add another election day to the calendar. As it turned out, both New Hampshire and Minnesota held their primaries on the same day during the 1916 primary. Indiana preceded them by one week. Following the 1916 primary, Indiana changed its primary to the first Tuesday in May, to take effect with the following primary in 1920. Minnesota dropped their primary altogether. New Hampshire became the first in the nation by default. The first-in-the-nation primary became a tradition that has remained ever since.

With the exception of the 1992 primary election when Governor Bill Clinton lost to Senator Paul Tsongas, no candidate had ever been elected president without first winning the New Hampshire primary. Failing to pick the winner in 1992 may have been a fluke. Senator Tsongas was a favorite son from neighboring Massachusetts. He was well respected and admired in New Hampshire. However, in 1996, New Hampshire got back on its winning track, with the primary election victory of Bill Clinton.

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