Senate votes to move primary by nearly 1 month

By a vote of 35-1, the Senate passed a bill moving Michigan's primary to the fourth Tuesday in February instead of the third Tuesday in March.

That would put the 2000 primary on Feb. 22 rather than March 21. Two dozen states, including New York and California, will hold primaries between March 8 and March 14. So if Michigan stays with March 21, the presidential fight might be over.

That point was emphasized by Sen. Ken Sikkema, the bill's sponsor.

"The March 21 date makes Michigan irrelevant to the presidential nominating process," said the Grandville Republican.

The bill now goes to the state House, where it could get a warm welcome from the Republican majority. The lone senator voting against it was Sen. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Livonia).

The move affects only Republican politics, since Democrats use party caucuses to allocate delegates among the party's White House hopefuls. Democrats are required by the national party to use caucuses rather than an open primary that would allow anyone to vote in the Democratic race.

"The bill is entirely irrelevant to our process," said state Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer.

"The national party continues to be very firm in telling us it (the primary) must be open to Democrats only."

State Republican Chair Betsy DeVos, however, welcomed the bill.

"Given our state's importance in the general election, it is only right that we carry the same weight in choosing our party's nominee," she said.

McCotter said he opposed the bill because an earlier primary would be an incentive for some Democrats to vote for a weak GOP candidate.

But DeVos said the earlier date positions Michigan in the thick of things.

"The Feb. 22 primary date will make Michigan the first large industrial state in the GOP primary process and does not upset the apple cart," she said.

"Our primary date respects the heritage of New Hampshire and Iowa while making it clear to all Republican presidential candidates that they must do well in Michigan if they expect to lead our party in 2000."

A New Hampshire law requires its primary to be held seven days before any other binding primary. Iowa traditionally holds the first party caucuses of the election cycle.

Critics have argued that gives the two states undue influence in the presidential selection process, and prompted other states to crowd closer to the dates of the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.

Democrats are discussing changes in their presidential nominating process. The Michigan Democratic Party adopted a resolution at its state convention earlier this month urging that its presidential caucuses be held before the New Hampshire primary. The resolution is not binding on the party.

The presidential primary bill is Senate Bill 51.

02-26-99