The GOP should revamp its presidential primary calendar

Since 1976, seven of the ten Democrats to win competitive Iowa caucuses have gone on to become their party’s nominee, and seven of the nine Republicans to win competitive New Hampshire primaries have gone on to do the same. The huge clout New Hampshire and Iowa have just by virtue of voting before everyone else is obvious. It’s the reason why over 20 states applied to move up their Democratic-primary dates after the DNC announced its intent to remake its calendar. (No state has yet asked the DNC for a later primary.)

It’s also arbitrary. Why should Iowa and New Hampshire always lead the way? There is something to be said for preserving traditions — but not when doing so prevents the rest of us from having an equal say in the contest for the world’s most important office.

Unfortunately, the RNC has declined to follow the DNC’s lead: Back in April, it announced that it would be “sticking with tradition” in 2024. But it’s not too late to change course.

In fact, if the RNC were smart, it would go even further than the Democrats, implementing a more appropriate, fair solution: a primary calendar determined by randomized lottery each cycle, with mechanisms in place to ensure that no state could enjoy a coveted early slot two cycles in a row. Voters would benefit from the variety this system created. So would our calcifying political system.