What is the process for deciding timing of who goes first: RNC or DNC?

July 21, 2016 9:17 PM

I'd be interested to learn more about it. Do they switch up every four years so one time the Republican National Convention goes first and then next time they go second? And then the Democrats swap back?

I'm interested because this year the Dems get to rebut this week's wacky Republican convention and it seems optimal. Primacy vs. recency and all that. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

posted by timpanogos to Law & Government (6 answers total)

The one that holds the White House goes last.
posted by bluecore at 9:20 PM on July 21, 2016 [5 favorites]

According to Wikipedia: "There is no rule dictating the order, but since 1956 the incumbent party has held its convention second."
posted by thefoxgod at 9:20 PM on July 21, 2016 [2 favorites]

And meanwhile, there's usually a debate among USA politics nerds about which is better. Going second means you get to rebut; going first means you get to define the narrative.
posted by notyou at 9:39 PM on July 21, 2016 [3 favorites]

The first to go gets, usually, a bump in the polls...then the 2nd, often, changes the polls and evens things out, or moves ahead etc...but then there are the debates and the process for polling begins again, thus providing media with more blah blah blah which means more ads for them.
posted by Postroad at 5:40 AM on July 22, 2016 [1 favorite]

So in terms of process, it seems to be this: the incumbent party holds off on announcing a date until the challenging party sets theirs. Then, the incumbent schedules their convention after the challenging one. It's not something they're going to confer about, though.
posted by beagle at 9:51 AM on July 22, 2016

Response by poster: fascinating. thanks folks.
posted by timpanogos at 8:54 PM on July 22, 2016