Yesterday, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp set Georgia’s 2016 Presidential Preference Primary for March 13, the earliest date most states are able to hold a primary without sanction from the Republican National Committee in the form of a reduction of voting strength. Holding the primary on that date means that delegate selection will be proportional, rather than “winner take all.”
In announcing the date, Kemp also called for a “Southeast Super Tuesday,” in hope that other states joining Georgia on March 1 will give the Southeast a greater role in selecting the GOP nominee. For politicians and political professionals, it means two additional things. First, Georgia’s elected officials will be more highly sought after for endorsements and organizational support. Second, political consultants may see more national money flowing through the Peach State and will try to land some of it in their own bank accounts.
Kemp told WSB radio yesterday that Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee have expressed interest in a regional Super Primary and South Carolina is one of the four states allowed by RNC rules to hold its delegate selection before March. Kemp’s leadership role as Chairman of the Republican Secretaries of State Committee means that he’s likely had discussions with many of his colleagues and that his proposal will be given serious consideration.
Jamie Dupree wrote in the AJC that Florida and Texas could also join the party on March 1, 2016, making the South an electoral juggernaut and potentially setting up a showdown between Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Alternatively, with proportional delegate selection, those two candidates could end up in a stalemate and a strong showing by a third candidate with regional appeal elsewhere might blunt the impact of a Southern Super Primary.
