New York Sets Primary Date One Week After Trump Set To Stand Trial

New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation Wednesday scheduling the state’s presidential primary the week after former President Donald Trump is set to appear for the trial of the indictment from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Bragg handed down the first of four indictments against the former president in March over allegedly falsifying business records when reimbursing an alleged hush money payment. Hochul’s signing of an elections bill set New York’s 2024 primary on April 2, following Trump’s March 25 trial date.

“By safeguarding the integrity of our electoral process and ensuring equal access to the ballot box, we empower every New Yorker to have their voice heard,” Hochul said in a statement. “New York State remains committed to strengthening our democratic process, championing the right to vote for every citizen and cementing our place as a national leader on voting rights.”

The late March trial date is also just days after six states hold their nominating contests, including Florida, which has almost the same number of delegates than all four key early primary states combined — Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

The set and proposed trial dates for the other three indictments brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis also coincide with major primary dates next year.

Smith indicted Trump over allegedly mishandling classified documents in June. Judge Aileen Cannon set the trial date for that case on May 20, the day before Kentucky and Oregon hold their primaries, and just before the final primaries on June 4 in Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota.