Democrats Dissent on Primaries

The Democrats’ election calendar has minorities feeling left out of the presidential nominating process because it starts with two states, Iowa and New Hampshire, that don’t reflect the nation’s diverse population, activists told the party Saturday.

Speaking on behalf of black, Latino and Asian voters, activists told a commission examining the Democratic presidential primary system that states with significant minority populations should play an earlier role.

Under the current system, candidates spend less time and money in states that vote later.

For decades, the Iowa caucuses have been the first nominating contest, followed closely by New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary.

The problem is worsened by a crush of early primaries that virtually determine the candidate before voters in other states weigh in, some people at the hearing said.

The commission plans to study various proposals for changing the calendar before meeting again in October. It plans to issue recommendations in December.