President Joe Biden emerged victorious in the Democratic primary in New Hampshire, showcasing a symbolic triumph despite not being featured on the official ballot and the state's limited significance in the nominating process. Biden's supporters orchestrated a write-in campaign, rallying enough voters in New Hampshire to choose him over other contenders, including U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips and self-help author Marianne Williamson. The state's lenient rules for presidential ballot qualification allowed numerous candidates to participate in the race.

Biden's allies in New Hampshire were instrumental in this unconventional victory. They organized a grassroots campaign encouraging voters to write in Biden's name, complemented by a super PAC that actively promoted the initiative. Despite the unconventional nature of a write-in victory, Aaron Jacobs, a seasoned Democratic strategist advising Granite State Write-In, expressed satisfaction, stating, "A win is a win." He acknowledged the impressive feat of winning a primary without Biden even being on the official ballot.

Notably, President Biden chose not to campaign in New Hampshire, and his name was absent from the ballot, aligning with the Democratic National Committee's decision to penalize the state for refusing to change the date of its Democratic presidential primary. The DNC, under Biden's direction, prioritized South Carolina as the initial contest, emphasizing its racial diversity and the influential role of Biden ally Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn in the state.

The refusal of New Hampshire's Republican-controlled state government to alter the law solidifying the state's first-in-the-nation (FITN) status led to the DNC's punitive measures. While it remains uncertain how a Democrat-controlled state government would have responded, the decision sparked dissatisfaction among New Hampshire Democrats. The DNC responded by stripping the state of its convention delegates and issuing threats to penalize any presidential candidates engaging in campaign activities within the state.

President Biden's unexpected win in the New Hampshire Democratic primary through a write-in campaign highlights the complexities of the primary process, state politics, and the interplay between party decisions and state responses. The unconventional victory underscores the determination of Biden's supporters and the challenges posed by a state's insistence on maintaining its historical primary status.