Birth of the ‘SEC primary’ in 2016

We’re all familiar with the concept of “Super Tuesday,” where more or less than a dozen or so states hold their primaries on the same day. This creates a point of no return for many candidates if they cannot secure enough victories during the days when multiple states hold their primary votes. It now appears several southern states may be joining to create a “Super Southern Tuesday” when multiple southern states will all hold primaries on the same day.

Report from AL.com:

Lawmakers will debate whether Mississippi should take part in a regional presidential primary, beginning in 2016.

The move would help create the “SEC primary,” named after the Southeastern Conference in sports.

The Southeast is a stronghold for Republicans in presidential politics. Secretaries of state, including Republican Delbert Hosemann of Mississippi, have endorsed a regional primary as a way for the states to grab the attention of presidential candidates.

House Bill 933 would move Mississippi’s primary to the first Tuesday of March. Under current law, the state’s presidential primary is set for the second Tuesday of that month.

The bill has passed the House Apportionment and Elections Committee and awaits debate in the full House.

Both Georgia and Tennessee are already set on the March 1, 2016, date.

This could be very beneficial for candidates who appeal to southern voters such as a Mike Huckabee or even a Ted Cruz. In fact, this would give the south more sway over the nomination process since it could inevitably lead a consolidation of the race if a candidate can get past this super southern primary.