Photo: Dorwart, Mike (uploader)
IOWA - Nevada's move to replace Iowa as the country's first presidential primary event may be hitting snags.
Politico reports internal fighting among Nevada Democrats is complicating that's state's effort have its primary placed ahead of Iowa's first in the nation caucus.
Nevada's governor signed a bill last week to move up its primary, but the nominating calendar is decided by the Democratic National Committee, which hasn't taken up the issue.
Iowa has held the country's first caucus since 1972, but was heavily criticized for lengthy delays and complications in reporting results in 2020.
Iowa has also come under scrutiny from national Democrats for having a heavily white population that doesn't represent the overall diversity of the country.
But Politico reports that Nevada's internal party struggles have reenergized Iowa Democratic operatives in their quest to keep its caucus at the front of the schedule.
In addition, Republicans don't want to change to nominating calendar at all. Last week, the state Republican Party chairs in all four early nominating states - which are Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina - issued a statement calling for the existing schedule to be left in place.
The struggle in Nevada centers around a fight for control of the 2022 campaign, which was wrestled away from the state party by the Washoe County Democratic Party.
Politico quoted Iowa DNC member and a former state party chair Scott Brennan as saying, “Their internal issues certainly create challenges that make it hard to see them moving forward successfully.”