State Senators Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) and David Argall (R-Carbon/Luzerne/Schuylkill), along with State Reps. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia) and Jared Solomon (D-Philadelphia), will introduce legislation that would move Pennsylvania’s 2024 presidential primary election date one month earlier.

The bill would move the Keystone State’s presidential primary to the third Tuesday in March versus the current date of the fourth Tuesday in April. The trio noted that such a move of dates would allow Pennsylvania voters to have a significant say in the outcome of the essential elections, while not running afoul of any rules set forth by the Democratic National Committee nor the Republican National Committee.

Setting the date for March 19, 2024 would place Pennsylvania on the same primary date as Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio.

The bill will not change the date of primary elections in non-Presidential years.

“Pennsylvania will be a pivotal battleground state in 2024 and having the primary election well after many other states already have theirs makes our commonwealth one of the last states in the nation to weigh in despite being a crucial swing state,” Kenyatta said. “With an earlier primary, Pennsylvania voters will represent the ‘keystone’ needed for each candidate to win their party’s nomination in 2024 and beyond.”

“Pennsylvania has proved time and time again to be a pivotal state when it comes to elections,” Solomon said. “This legislation will provide Pennsylvania the political weight it deserves by giving us a voice earlier in the process.”

Kenyatta and Solomon will be introducing this legislation along with Street who will introduce mirror legislation in the Senate.

“Pennsylvania is a critical battleground in determining the leadership and direction of our nation,” Street said. “It is incumbent upon government and our obligation to enhance the voices of Pennsylvanians in choosing the president. Moving our presidential primary date up by one month gives the voices of Pennsylvanians the weight they deserve.”