State Rep. Joe Sweeney, Of Salem, Wants To Change Date Of NH Primary

SALEM, NH — State representative Joe Sweeney on Wednesday submitted legislation to move the state primary to the second week of June from its current date in September.

This is the third time that Sweeney, a third-term Republican from Salem, has submitted legislation regarding the date of the primary election. But Sweeney said he believes the third time will be the charm because of growing support for such a move.

"I am confident we can pass it in the legislature and Governor Chris Sununu has signaled new support for such a change," Sweeney said.

Sununu told WFEA radio earlier this week that he didn't mind moving the primary date.

"I've come to that, I was 50-50. But not August. How about the second or third week in June?" Sununu said.

Sweeney, who advanced from Tuesday's Republican primary and will run for one of nine Rockingham 25 seats in November's general election, explained to Patch why he believed an earlier primary was necessary.

"I believe it is long overdue to better our election calendar for candidates, campaigns, voters and election officials as it will give more time between the primary and general for campaigns to re-organize themselves following a primary," Sweeney said. "Having such a late primary election has been extremely beneficial to entrenched incumbents (because) challengers only have seven weeks of a general election to run. "

According to billtrack50.com, Sweeney first helped submit legislation regarding the date of the state primary election in 2015, but the bill was killed in the house.

In January 2021, Sweeney once again helped submit a bill, this one calling for the primary to take place on the second Tuesday in August.

The bill ultimately was vetoed by Sununu in the summer of 2021.