Sexton: What are your thoughts on this new DNC calendar?
Khanna: Well, look, New Hampshire's obviously going to matter. We're standing here on pure Americana, all the signs. Anyone here will know democracy is alive and vibrant, and New Hampshire has a special place. They'll figure it out. But the fact that I'm here, that (Mark) Kelly's here, that (Pete) Buttigieg comes here, (J.B.) Pritzker's here, uh, New Hampshire's going to play a key role.
Sexton: And down the line if the DNC were to say something like, "Hey, don't go here anymore." Is that going to be a problem for you? Or will we cross that bridge when we get to it?
Khanna: I don't think that will happen. I think (New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair) Ray Buckley has shown very skilled leadership of the (state) party. He's going to work it out with the DNC. It is an appropriate test to be in South Carolina, Nevada, Michigan and New Hampshire. And you've watched these campaigns long enough. As long as New Hampshire is in the early window, it's going to have an enormous impact.
...
Sexton: What do you think of this DNC calendar and the early voting states?
Kelly: Yeah, well, you know, I don't get a say in which state goes first. I think that New Hampshire plays a very critical role in, you know, how we select the nominee for the party for president. I experienced this a little bit last night when I had 12 Granite staters around a table, and just the kind of questions you get from them. You really get the sense of how engaged people are in this process.
Sexton: If the DNC starts to tell a candidate where they can and can't go, is that something that you're not going to stand for potentially or we'll cross that bridge when we get there?
Kelly (with quizzical look on his face when the campaign restrictions are mentioned): I really believe that New Hampshire plays a critical role in this process. I also don't think this discussion is over yet.
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Sexton (in wrapping up the segment): There's a tacit acceptance (from the two potential candidates) of the DNC's calendar alongside an affirmation of New Hampshire's importance, and they think it's just not possible the DNC will do its worst.
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Noteworthy: The video link above appears under the headline "Potential 2028 contenders don’t think DNC will enforce toughest penalties on NH." That along with Sexton's closing comments are somewhat misleading.
Both Kelly and Khanna pandered to a the New Hampshire audience to whom they were speaking, but both dodged the question about candidate penalties in the event that New Hampshire Democrats opt into any rogue state-run primary. Khanna said that it would get worked out. It will! One way or another and at some point. And Kelly said the discussion is not over yet. It isn't!
But two things:
1) September 15 is the initial deadline for the New Hampshire Democratic Party to have responded to the tasks given them in the DNC waiver granting a party-run primary (or a state-run primary if it can be moved) an early spot. That is tomorrow. Democrats in the Granite state have to have reached out to the secretary of state in Concord about setting the primary for DNC-prescribed date or submit a delegate selection plan for a party-run contest by September 15.
Regardless of progress made, the state party may get an extension from the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee (RBC) to continue that work. Or they may not. But September 15 will be our first indication of both how defiant New Hampshire Democrats are going to be about this and how tolerant the RBC is going to be about any signs of rogue calendar activity for this cycle.
2) Additionally, the dodges from Kelly and Khanna are understandable. I don't know that either, no offense to them, really knows the specifics of the new candidate penalties the DNC has put in place for the 2028 cycle. They are not alone. Kelly, in particular, looked surprised at the suggestion of campaigning penalties when they were raised by Sexton.
But they all will know the rules and penalties for breaking them upon formal entry into the race. As part of Rule 13 of the delegate selection rules, all candidates must sign an affirmation that they are running for the presidential nomination as Democrats. The same sort of document was used in 2020. However, it, too, has been amended for 2028 to include an acknowledgement that the candidates have "reviewed and agree to abide by the 2028 Delegate Selection Rules with the full understanding that if I or my campaign violate the rules, I and my campaign will be subject to the sanctions..." Breaking that pledge is what is going to potentially cost candidates access to primary debates.
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