PA Needs Earlier Primary Election Date, Lawmakers Say

PENNSYLVANIA — The state's presidential primary would be more relevant if shifted from late April to March, two legislators who are seeking to move the primary date contend.

Representatives Malcolm Kenyatta and Jared Solomon, both Philadelphia Democrats, say they want Pennsylvania voters to have more influence in selecting presidential nominees for each party. The bill they are about to introduce in the state House would move the primary to the third Tuesday in March beginning next year.

"Pennsylvania has been a pivotal battleground state and will be again in 2024," the pair said in a joint statement.

"Unfortunately, Pennsylvania’s presidential primary is the fourth Tuesday in April, long after many states have voted for a presidential nominee. This makes our commonwealth one of the last states in the nation to weigh in despite being a crucial swing state."

If the legislation is approved in the House and Senate and signed into law by Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro, the 2024 primary will be on March 19.

"This will increase Pennsylvania’s importance in future presidential primary elections, giving our residents increased national political weight in line with our state's size and importance," the representatives stated. "With an earlier primary, Pennsylvania voters will represent the 'keystone' needed for each candidate to win their party's nomination in 2024 and beyond."

The move still would not make Pennsylvania among the initial states to conduct primaries. In 2020, the first four states to hold primaries or caucuses did so in February: Iowa on the 3rd, New Hampshire on the 11th, Nevada on the 22nd and South Carolina on the 29th.