Morning Digest -- More Calendar Clues

2024 Calendar and Rules Activity for April 11

To this point, FHQ has only dealt with draft 2024 Democratic delegate selection plans (DSPs) from the state parties as they came across our radars. That has been pretty piecemeal. An update here and an update there. But I decided to be a bit more systematic in going through all that is out there at the moment.

Recall, the process should be in full-on public comment mode right now. DSPs are due to the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee (DNCRBC) by May 3 and there is a required 30 day public comment period preceding that. Of course, some processes are more publicly visible than others, and at least some state parties have routinely been tardy in submitting them in past cycles.

Still, there are fewer than 30 days until May 3 and there are just 31 plans that FHQ has been able to track down. That leaves 26 states and territories that have yet to make their DSPs (clearly and easily) publicly available for (electronic) comment. As noted over the weekend, the territories are notoriously tough to get anything out of until the review process starts (if then). But even some of the remaining outstanding states are noteworthy. Of the states with waivers to hold early contests in 2024, only Michigan and New Hampshire have put DSPs out there. That leaves South Carolina, Nevada and Georgia on the radio silent end. And questions remain about what Democrats in a formerly exempt state, Iowa, may craft into their plans (rogue or not).

Again, none of this is news in particular. And it does not necessarily suggest that anything earth-shattering is going on behind the scenes with the calendar. South Carolina Democrats have a chair race on the horizon. Nevada is adapting a plan for a presidential primary rather than caucuses for the first time. And Georgia Democrats are still working under the extension the DNC granted the party in February to work toward that carve-out set aside for them on February 13, 2024. Even Democrats in Iowa have an ambitious plan they are working toward, an all-mail caucus.

So there are reasons for the delays, but each is working under pressure with May 3 approaching.

Here are a few other tidbits gleaned from the other DSPs that are actually out there: