Jim Splain has served decades in the New Hampshire legislature,
and as a former city councillor,
he also helped make New Hampshire the first in the
nation primary.
Is we had a first in the nation primary since
1916.
We had a primary that came before any other states
primary or caucus.
Right up through the early 1970s.
But then other states challenged us in the early 1970s.
Nineteen 72. So it became clear that we were going
to lose our status as first in the nation,
at least starting the next cycle in 1976.
Unless we found a way to be able to keep
New Hampshire first.
So that's why I sponsored legislation in 75.
The law now states that New Hampshire gets to be
at least a week or more before any other state.
The governor at that time was a Republican.
He was thinking of running for president.
So he supported my bill and we ended up passing
it in those days.
Democrats could talk with the Republicans and Republicans could talk
to Democrats.
We were able to communicate with one another.
Now, unfortunately, that doesn't occur quite so much.
Partisanship in states as well as,
of course, nationally. New Hampshire has faced challenges to its
first in the nation spot and national parties can't do
anything about it.
They certainly tried this year.
Other states can't jump ahead of us because we pay
for our primary.
We can have it whenever we want.
He's referencing the DNC's push to have South Carolina's first
in the nation.
Splain wrote to the DN CS opposition to the effort
and that New Hampshire would continue the tradition since we
are a small state.
It is less expensive.
For candidates to be able to run here.
And more likely that they are able to meet people.
I mean, talk with people face to face,
eye to eye, one-on-one. And that's a factor that simply
does not occur in a place like New York State
or California or Michigan.
Or some of the southern states.
Or Florida.