Pennsylvania could become more influential in determining who the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees are, starting in 2024.

The Senate is expected to vote on Wednesday on a bill that would set the presidential primary election date on the third Tuesday in March. Currently, state law sets it for the fourth Tuesday in April, by which time the outcome of the presidential nominating contests is often already known.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, that would put this state in the company of Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Arizona, which also hold their primaries on that date in March.

Sen. John Gordner, R-Columbia County, who is sponsoring the legislation, pointed out Pennsylvania currently is the last most populous state to hold its presidential primary. He would like to see it become more influential in deciding the presidential nominees but starting with the next presidential election cycle in which the nominees are yet not known.

He pointed out that a 1999 Joint State Government Commission study on the scheduling of primary dates suggested that the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee get together and schedule primaries in a way to “enable every state to have a meaningful influence on at least some presidential nominations.” Short of that, it recommended the General Assembly reposition “its primary to allow its citizens a voice in the selection of the candidates for the nation’s most powerful office.”

During the Senate Appropriations Committee meeting on Tuesday when the bill was discussed, Gordner said he had no interest in having Pennsylvania join the mob of 14 states that hold their primaries on the first Tuesday in March, regarded as Super Tuesday. Sen. Sharif Street, D-Philadelphia, said the third Tuesday in March is the earliest date the state could pick without incurring any penalties from the Democratic National Committee which has a rule about that. Gordner concurred with that statement.

Gordner said by having it on the same date as just a couple other big states it would ensure candidates give Pennsylvania a fair amount of attention.

The bill passed unanimously out of the appropriations committee after Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, made a point of getting it confirmed that legislative seats up for election in those years also would be held on that same date..

Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie County, thanked Gordner for offering the bill. He said he would be a resounding yes. He said as someone who participated in every election since turning 18, “I’ve always been disappointed that by the time the primary is in Pennsylvania, it’s usually a done deal. It’s pretty disappointing.”

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

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