Senate panel passes bill to move date of Ohio’s 2016 primary

COLUMBUS (AP) — An Ohio legislative panel has approved a plan to push back the swing state’s 2016 presidential primary election by a week.

The bill passed today by the Senate’s State and Local Government Committee would move that primary to March 15. The election is currently set for March 8, the first Tuesday after the first Monday of the month.

The bill’s GOP supporters have said the date change follows Republican National Committee rules designed to discourage states from holding primaries too early to boost their influence in the party’s nominating process.

The full Senate must still consider the proposal. It cleared the House last month over Democratic objections.

House Democrats contended that moving the primary to May 3 or later would allow both parties to maximize their delegates.