LITTLE ROCK – An Arkansas lawmaker is proposing moving the state’s presidential primary from May to March as part of an effort to create a regional nominating contest among several Southern states.
Republican Sen. Gary Stubblefield of Branch filed legislation Tuesday that would move the state’s presidential primary in 2016 from May 17 to March 1. Several states have proposed moving their nominating contests to that day and create what they’ve dubbed the “SEC primary,” a reference to the Southeastern Conference.
Stubblefield says the move would give Arkansas more clout in the party primaries and attract more candidates to the state.
Arkansas had moved its presidential primary to February in the 2008 election, but lawmakers voted to move it back with the May primary a year later.
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