Are Democrats and Republicans participating in the New Hampshire primaries?

Linh Pham/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Both Republicans and Democrats will be competing in the New Hampshire primary, although the importance for either party are dramatically different. 

With no incumbent president, the Republican primary is an open contest where any of the three candidates, former President Donald Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have a realistic shot at winning the 2024 presidential election. 

However, the Democrats having an incumbent in President Biden means the election all but certainly will be a Biden victory. New Hampshire Democrats will get the opportunity to vote for Biden’s primary opponents, but their odds are not considered good.

"While the president wishes to participate in the Primary, he is obligated as a Democratic candidate for President to comply with the Delegate Selection Rules for the 2024 Democratic National Convention promulgated by the Democratic National Committee," Biden 2024 campaign manager Julie Chávez Rodríguez wrote in a letter to longtime New Hampshire Democratic Party chair Ray Buckley in late October.

"In accordance with this guidance, Biden for President will refrain from submitting a Declaration of Candidacy for the Primary ahead of Friday’s candidate filing deadline for the Primary," Rodriguez explained.