2. What are the consequences of the new primary date?
Both national parties have said that states will be penalized for holding primaries or caucuses before Feb. 5. Democrats made exceptions for Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada to respect the historical early role of Iowa and New Hampshire and increase the geographical and demographic diversity by adding South Carolina and Nevada; meanwhile, Republicans give a pass to Iowa and Nevada, as their caucuses technically are not binding contests. As a consequence, both of Michigan's delegations have been cut. The Republican National Committee cut Michigan's GOP delegation to the Republican National Convention in half to 30 delegates. The Democratic National Committee stripped Michigan Democrats of their entire 156-person delegation to the Democratic National Convention.
