Biden supporters launch write-in campaign in New Hampshire

President Biden supporters in New Hampshire have launched a write-in campaign after he declined to file to put his name on the Granite State’s Democratic presidential primary ballot. 

“On the night of the New Hampshire primary, the eyes of the world will turn to the very first votes cast of the 2024 election – and it’s important to show the world that thousands of New Hampshire voters are supporting President Joe Biden,” according to the “Write-In Joe Biden” campaign website.

The “private, grassroots” effort consists of dozens of New Hampshire Democrats and independents committed to putting Biden’s name on the state’s primary ballot, according to the site, despite the president’s plan not to file. 

Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said last week that Biden wants to participate in the primary but is “obligated as a Democratic candidate” to comply with Democratic National Committee (DNC) guidance “urging Democratic campaigns to refrain from placing candidates’ names on the ballot.” 

The DNC is reshuffling its presidential nominating calendar, placing South Carolina first in its primary lineup, followed by Nevada and New Hampshire.

Iowa and New Hampshire have traditionally kicked off the process, and the Granite State has indicated it intends to stick to its first-in-the-nation position despite the DNC plans.

“While misguided DNC rules will leave Joe Biden off the primary ballot here in 2024, New Hampshire Democrats and Democrat-leaning Independents overwhelmingly support Joe Biden and plan to write him in,” according to the write-in campaign website. “Supporting our democracy is much more important than party politics or misguided DNC rules.”

New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Raymond Buckley wrote in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, responding to Biden’s move that “the reality is that Joe Biden will win” the New Hampshire primary in January. 

“NH voters know and trust Joe Biden that’s why he is leading Trump in NH by double digits,” Buckley said. 

The write-in effort is supported by some top Democrats in the state, according to the site, including New Hampshire Senate Democratic Leader Donna Soucy, state House Democratic Leader Matt Wilhelm and former state Democratic Party Chair Kathy Sullivan.

U.S. House Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-N.H.) said on X that she supports the effort.

It’s filed with the Federal Election Commission as the PAC “Granite State Write-In.”

It comes after Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) jumped into the Democratic primary to challenge Biden and filed in New Hampshire last week.