Why New Hampshire’s primary is always first

After a disastrous Iowa caucus, people are asking why New Hampshire gets to be the first in the nation for primary season. Chris Cillizza explains the history into why this tiny state votes first.

SOURCES AND FURTHER READING:
Vote-reporting mess leaves Iowa with no victor on caucus night

The 50 US States Ranked By Population

Why do Iowa and New Hampshire, two of the nation’s least diverse states, get to vote first?

How many Dunkin Donuts locations are there in the United States?

A History of U.S. Presidential Primaries: 1912-64

New Hampshire: A Proven Primary Tradition

What The 1952 Republican Primary Teaches Us About Today’s Primary

Why is New Hampshire the first primary in the nation?

Meet The Guard Dog Who Keeps The New Hampshire Primary First

Dixville Notch, NH finds enough people to retain voting claim to fame

How Predictive Are Iowa And New Hampshire?

About me:
I was named "best dressed" in 7th grade. That, along with being CNN's editor at large and author of the daily "Point" newsletter are my proudest achievements. Look for me here every Tuesday and Thursday to find out what’s really going down in politics.

CREDITS
Writer: Chris Cillizza
The Point team: Leigh Munsil and Allison Gordon
Editor: Michelle Cho
Producer: Arielle Sacks

Follow Chris on

#CNN #Cillizza #NewHampshire

[CNN]

Hey, Chris here — which state do you think should vote first?

[johnf]

CNN when Bernie wins New Hampshire too: “Why Nevada’s primary is actually the first”

CNN when Bernie wins the democratic nomination: “We were wrong about Trump. He’s not so bad!”

[apoc]

"How to say nothing for 6 whole minutes"

[Fiendstein]

Bernie Won Iowa! Its Official as of 1pm today.

[ssgemeritus]

Chris: "we screwed up in Iowa, so that doesn't count."

[dub]

CNN "why Iowa is so crucial"

One week later "so anyway let's talk about New Hampshire"

[bakasan]

I love how CNN chooses a crap picture of Bernie for the video thumbnail. CNN, your bias is showing.

[joaomcc]

I think I am allergic to this guy hahahahaahaha i cant stand him!!

[spzaruba]

With 97% of the Iowa votes in, Pete and Bernie are tied. That's the importance.

[andtam]

Hillary has done it again! No Bernie. Sad!

[KeepingIt-fmlj]

I'm voting dem in the nov election no matter what. 45 needs to go we don't need another four years.

[allanpattison]

It should have been Bobby Kennedy forcing Johnson out. Electing Bobby would have been a transendential change for the better, for America!! Bernie is the same kind of candidate!!
Bernie 2020!!
Feel the Bern!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[XX-vypj]

Chris your off your meds AGAIN. Democrats eating themselves. Losers !

[sachiperez]

Missed opportunity: ‘how do you like THEM [donuts]!’

[mikealbert]

Spoiler alert..
It’s always first because it’s scheduled first on the calendar.

[iMannyFest]

Trump’s company says it charges only minimal fees. But Secret Service records do not show that.
At Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club, the Secret Service was charged the $650 rate dozens of times in 2017, and a different rate, $396.15, dozens more times in 2018, according to documents from Trump’s visits.
And at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, the Secret Service was charged $17, 000 a month to use a three-bedroom cottage on the property, an unusually high rent for homes in that area, according to receipts from 2017. Trump’s company billed the government even for days when Trump wasn’t there.

[MinotaurDIGITAL]

This guy needs to lose his job. He's so frequently wrong.

[joshuamichlowitz]

The amount of partisan toxicity on a video that isn’t mentioning a political party or support for same, is crazy. He’s discussing the history a primary and people are throwing a fit over their partisan choice.

[tinasmith]

The oligarchs lost in Iowa so let's pretend it didn't happen and move on... Seriously if Bernie wins the nomination the DNC isn't even going to fund him. Hope you wanted trump for another 4 years because that's where you're leading us. Thanks for nothing.

[iMannyFest]

President Trump’s company charges the Secret Service for the rooms agents use while protecting him at his luxury properties — billing U.S. taxpayers at rates as high as $650 per night, according to federal records and people who have seen receipts.