Biden campaign announces he won't appear on New Hampshire ballot

MANCHESTER, N.H. —

Ten major candidates are on the ballot for New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary, but President Joe Biden won't be one of them.

Candidates have until the end of the day Friday to file their paperwork, but Biden's campaign has informed the New Hampshire Democratic Party that it will not put the president's name on the primary ballot.

"I think, personally, I think it's a mistake he's not putting his name on the ballot here," Secretary of State David Scanlan said.

The move was not unexpected because of the Democratic National Party's attempts to get New Hampshire to relinquish its first-in-the-nation status.

"Well, it certainly was expected and that's why a group of prominent Democrats across the state are organizing to do the write-in," Ray Buckley, New Hampshire Democratic Party chairman, said.

Buckley said Biden remains the best choice for New Hampshire voters.

Minnesota Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips is expected to file to have his name on the ballot later this week, but even with the incumbent's name absent, Buckley said the write-in campaign will be enough to deliver Biden the win in New Hampshire.

"Well, it's not part of the party," Buckley said. "It's just some folks who are getting together informally to organize the effort, but it seems to be going very, very well."

Scanlan has not yet set the date of the New Hampshire primary. He said he won't be able to set it until after the filing period closes, and he's still watching where some other states set their primary dates.

Under New Hampshire state law, the primary must be held at least one week before any other primary or similar contest. The DNC decided to change its calendar, putting South Carolina in the leadoff spot, but Scanlan is adamant that New Hampshire has the right and legal obligation to go first.

Scanlan said he expects more challenges to the first-in-the-nation status in 2028, when both parties could be mounting contested primaries.

"I think they'll continue to pose challenges until they get tired and give up," Scanlan said. "We won't."

Scanlan said New Hampshire is a good state to lead off primary season, citing its small size, high voter turnout and low barrier for candidates to get on the ballot.